Beating the rain:
Bulldogs earn 3-2 victory before bad weather halts doubleheader
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By
BOB KRAYL
Texarkana Gazette
Texarkana College Bulldogs banged out 13 hits, but it took a wild pitch to score the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning in their 3-2 victory over Seminole State College in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader at Spring Lake Park Monday.
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Staff photo by Aaron Street Texarkana College’s Linsae McNabb slides into second base Monday at Spring Lake Park. The Bulldogs defeated Seminole State College, 3-2.
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The second game was called with rain falling near end of the opener and more threatening weather on the way.
Texarkana (5-3) loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh. Jennifer Lynn singled, Jolene Addington drew a base on balls, and Jessica Lynn reached on a fielder’s choice play at third.
Amanda Busby lined a drive off pitcher Audrey Wood’s glove toward second and Katie Carroll’s throw nipped Lynn at the plate. With Regan Dunlap at the plate, Wood uncorked a wild pitch and pinch-runner Millicent Dickey raced home with the winning run.
“We did a good job of hitting the ball, but need to do better in pushing runs across,” said Texarkana coach Leslie Messina. “But when we get a lot of hits, It gives more opportunities to score. We’ve been hitting well lately, especially in the last few games at the recent Galveston tournament.”
Casey Merritt paced the Bulldogs’ attack with three singles, while Jennifer Lynn had a triple and single, and Dunlap a double and single.
The Bulldogs also received a fine pitching performance from Shea Parker. After giving up solo runs in the second and third innings, Parker allowed only six hits, walked one, and struck out two.
Seminole State (2-4) scored its first run in the second on a double by Lacy Mize and soon scored on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by Kensi Caldwell.
Texarkana missed a big opportunity in the bottom half, loading the bases with one out on singles by Jessica Lynn, Busby, and Mindy Woodson. Wood then retired the next two batters to end the threat.
The Norman, Okla., area team’s second run scored in the third on a double by Nikki Stansell, a sacrifice by Carroll, and a squeeze bunt by Wood.
The Norman, Okla., area team’s second run scored in the third on a double by Nikki Stansell, a sacrifice by Carroll, and a squeeze bunt by Wood.
The Bulldogs tied the game with two runs on four hits in bottom of third.
Merritt led off the inning with a single and scored on a triple to deep right by Jennifer Lynn. Addington then singled home Lynn with the second run. Dunlap added a single later in the inning.
Texarkana banged out a pair of hits each in the fourth and fifth innings but was unable to push across a go-ahead run.
“I’m glad we were able to get in at least one game,” said Messina. “It was getting to look pretty bad, and seen no sense in playing with weather like that.”
Texarkana is scheduled to play Eastern Oklahoma State College today at Spring Lake Park’s Bulldogs Field in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
Seminole State 011 000 0 — 2 6 0
Texarkana 002 000 1 — 3 13 1
Audrey Wood and Rachelle Rhodes. Shea Parker and Jennifer Lynn. WP-Parker. LP-Wood.
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