COLLEGE SOFTBALL: Colburn enjoys successful return for OC

MIDLAND For the last two weeks, Odessa College’s Morgan Colburn was dealing with knee tendinitis and watching her softball team play from the bench.

The freshman said it was difficult but finally got the chance to contribute Saturday in a 17-9 six-inning victory against Western Nebraska Community College (Neb.) at the Freddie Ezell Softball Complex.

The Wranglers, who lost 5-3 to Garden City Community College earlier in the day, salvaged a 2-3 finish in the Midland College Classic.

“It was nice to finally go out and swing the bat,” Colburn said. “I’m glad I was able to finally help my teammates.”

Colburn went 3-for-5 with a double, home run and four RBIs.

She credited extra batting sessions, while undergoing rehabilitation and treatments, for her ability to stay sharp at the plate.

“I focused on my hitting while I was rehabbing my knee,” Colburn said. “So, when I got to the plate, I was just looking to hit singles and start rallies.”

The Wranglers (14-9) needed an offensive spark after they squandered a 7-1 lead in the end of the second inning.

 Western Nebraska erased the deficit and tied the game 8-8 by combining for seven runs in the top of the third and fourth innings.

“We relaxed a little bit after we got a big lead,” Odessa College coach Joel Prickett said. “That’s not a good way to play against a good hitting team like Western Nebraska.”

After a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth, Odessa College scored seven runs in the fifth and two in the sixth to close out the 17-9 victory by run-rule in the sixth.

Elita Sendejo earned the win for the Lady Wranglers, while Bianca Duran took the loss for Western Nebraska.

“We just started to hit the ball well and it energized the team,” said Kristyn Rogers, who went 4-for-5 with two doubles and four RBIs. “Even when the game was tied I had all the confidence that our team would score.”

Duran went 3-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBIs to lead Western Nebraska (1-4). Teammate Danielle Hearn went 2-for-3 with a double, home run and two RBIs.

Prickett said he will give the Lady Wranglers a few days off to rest up before traveling to Fort Worth for the Cowtown Classic II Tournament. The Lady Wranglers are scheduled to play games Friday against Highland (Kan.) at 9 a.m., Barton College (Kan.) at 11 a.m. and Independent (Kan.) at 3 p.m.

“We’re a little banged up at all the positions,” Prickett said, “so I think this is a good time to heal up.”

>> Odessa College 17, Western Nebraska C.C. (Neb.) 9 

MIDLAND COLLEGE CLASSIC

(Game ended in six innings)

WNCC............ 104  301          —     9    14     2

OC.................. 341  072          —   17    22     1

Bianca Duran and Jocelyn Stubbs. Rachel Thompson, Elita Sendejo (4) and Kaylyn Archuleta. W — Sendejo. L — Duran. 2B — Western Nebraska: Gabi Palacios, Danielle Hearn, Bianca Duran, Jocelyn Stubbs, Odessa College: Kaylyn Archuleta, Morgan Colburn, Kristyn Rogers 2, Rikki Garcia. 3B — Western Nebraska: Mariah Faifer. HR — Western Nebraska: Hearn, Duran, Mariah Shepherd, Odessa College: Colburn.

Records — Western Nebraska 1-4; Odessa College 14-9.

>> Follow Carlos Silva Jr. on Twitter at @OASilvaJr