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.
“In the first game, I thought we did a good job of hitting,” Frank Phillips College head coach Lucas Grider said. “But in the second game, we didn’t have great energy as a team.
“They put the ball on the bat much better and scored more runs. We didn’t take advantage of opportunities.”
