Wrangler Softball sweeps Frank Phillips
The Odessa College softball team had little trouble sweeping Frank Phillips College Lady in a Western Junior College Athletic Conference doubleheader Friday at the Wranglers Field.
The Lady Wranglers (27-20 overall, 18-8 in conference) earned run-rule victories in both games, winning 9-0 after five innings in the Game 1 before posting a 24-3 win in Game 2, which also ended after five innings.
"We did a good job of taking care of business and doing what we need to do," Odessa College head coach Jeff Jackson. "We had good energy. I'm happy about that and that's a big part of what we've been trying to do.
"All week, going into this weekend, we've been talking about maintaining energy and controlling the tempo of the game. I thought for the most part, except for the last inning of that second game, we did a good job."
Friday's doubleheader was the start of a four-game series. Both teams will wrapup the regular season with a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday.
The Lady Plainsmen (3-43, 0-25) were left still searching for their first WJCAC win as the regular season nears its conclusion.
Becca Duran got the Lady Wranglers on the board early in Game 1 with a solo home run in the first inning.
The Lady Wranglers loaded the bases in the second inning and plated a pair of runs for a 3-0 lead, then added three more runs in the third inning on July Hernandez's bases-clearing triple.
Odessa College starter Cori Turner handcuffed Frank Phillips and went the distance for the Game 1 victory.
The Lady Wranglers wasted no time getting started in Game 2, scoring four runs in the bottom of the inning in what was a precursor to an offensive outburst.
After forcing the Lady Plainsmen into a pitching change to start the bottom of the second inning, Odessa College broke the game open with 10 more runs for a 14-0 lead after two innings.
Included in the breakout inning was Duran's second home run of the game.
From that point, it was just a matter of getting through the third, fourth and fifth innings, along with continuing to score runs.
The Lady Wranglers held a 24-0 lead after four innings, then watched Frank Phillips break it scoreless streak on the day with three runs in the top of the fifth inning.
The Odessa College softball team finished up its regular season by sweeping Frank Phillips on Saturday at Wrangler Field.
The Lady Wranglers (29-20 overall, 20-8 in conference) won the first game 13-2 in five innings before finishing off the Lady Plainsmen 8-1 in the second game.
Cori Turner took the win for Odessa College in the first game, giving up only two hits and two runs and Rayni Sandidge took the win in the second game, giving up four hits and one run with one error.
Odessa College advances as the No. 3 seed to the Region V-West Tournament starting May 10 at Plains Capital Park in Lubbock.
ARTICLES BY - MICHAEL BAUER: ODESSA AMERICAN SPORTS DEPARTMENT