Taylor Davis’ first hit of Thursday’s nightcap traveled nearly 300 feet: A solo homer in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game with Northeast Texas Community College at 3-3.
Davis’ second hit may have moved three feet, and it brought home the game winner, giving the No. 18 Angelina College Lady Roadrunners a 6-5 win in extra innings. The win followed a 9-7, come-from-behind win in the first game, giving AC the sweep and its fifth straight win in conference play.
With teammate Miranda Wiggins steaming home from third base, Davis dropped a perfect bunt just in front of the plate, allowing Wiggins to plow headfirst across the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning.
AC entered the eighth trailing 5-3 after NTCC’s Kymber Green and Kelsey Naomi each drove in a run in the top of the frame. In the bottom half, Shay Vegas led off with a single to center, and Ashley Hallmark doubled off the wall in center set up runners at second and third. Wiggins then tied the game with a single up the middle; she followed by stealing second and moving to third on an error.
Two pitches later, Davis bounced a bunt in front of the plate, sidestepped the carom and danced her way to a celebration at first base.
Davis finished with three hits and two RBI in the game; Lauren Garza and Wiggins each were 2-for-4 with two RBI; and Wiggins
The Lady Roadrunners endured just as much drama in the opener, giving up seven runs on two hits in a sluggish first inning and trailing 7-4 heading into the sixth. Kaylee Parker and Lynsey Mitchell hit back-to-back homers earlier to keep AC within reach – then the Lady ‘Runners erupted for a five-run inning in the bottom of the sixth to take the win. Kali Holcomb celebrated her birthday with a two-run double in the inning, Mitchell added a game-tying RBI on a fielder’s choice and Vegas put AC on top with an RBI single to score Parker. Jordan Kisselburg drove home Mitchell for the game’s final run, then shut down the Lady Eagles in order to earn the relief win in the seventh. Kisselburg also earned the win in the nightcap following the late rally.
NTCC’s battery mates in the last game were former Diboll Ladyjack teammates Sydney Hurley (catcher) and Aileen Robles in the circle.
The Lady Roadrunners (33-9, 9-5) will host Kilgore College in a Saturday doubleheader scheduled to start at 1 p.m.