TCC splits with Pensacola State in PC softball opener

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 20, 2013) – Tallahassee Community College opened the 2013 Panhandle Conference softball season on Wednesday by hosting Pensacola State College for a doubleheader at the TCC Softball Complex. 

Tallahassee picked up a 5-0 game one victory to put itself in position to snap a string of five consecutive splits, but Pensacola State rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to claim a 14-6 victory in the nightcap. 

Tallahassee heads to Friday's home doubleheader against Gulf Coast State College with a 17-15 record while Pensacola State is 18-9. Both teams are 1-1 in Panhandle Conference play. 

Ashley Dobson was the story in game one, tossing a three-hit shutout. She walked only one and struck out two. Behind her, the Eagles' defense also turned a pair of double plays, including one of the 4-6-3 variety to end the game and preserve the shutout. 

The Eagles gave Dobson all the run support she'd need in their first at-bat. 

Brenda Santana drove in the game's first run when her line drive to centerfield short hopped the fence. Tammy McMillian singled to right to plate the second run of the inning and Krista Garcia's run-scoring single made it 3-0. 

Garcia came through again in the third, delivering a two-out single down the right field line to score a pair of runs and extend Tallahassee's lead to 5-0. 

Garcia was 3-for-3 with three RBI in game one while Santana was 2-for-2 with an RBI. 

After winning game one, Tallahassee picked up where it left off in the nightcap. 

Santana's single down the right field line scored Ashley Smith from second to put the Eagles on the board in the first. Tallahassee added to its lead an inning later on a run-scoring double by Marina Cobbs. 

Meanwhile, game two starter Krysta Hoani pitched her way in and out of trouble during the early innings. 

Pensacola State put at least two runners on in each of the first three innings and loaded the bases in the second and third, but Hoani came up with the big out each time to keep the Pirates scoreless. 

After knocking on the door for three innings, Pensacola State broke through against Hoani in the fourth. 

A leadoff double by Brook Richardson started a five-run inning for Pensacola State, who sent ten batters to the plate against Hoani and a pair of relievers. 

Hoani exited with a 2-1 lead but Brittney Wright's first pitch traveled to the backstop, bringing home the tying run from third. Following a strikeout, Wright issued consecutive walks to plate the tie-breaking runs. A sac-fly by Michaela Balfantz scored the fifth run of the inning and gave Pensacola State a 5-2 lead. 

Shawna Montgomery smacked a run-scoring double in the fifth, and the Pirates put the game away with eight runs in the sixth. 

Hoani took the loss in game two for Tallahassee. 

Pensacola State tallied 18 hits in the nightcap, led by Nicole Quigley, who was 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Dee Rodriguez was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI. 

Santana and Garcia again led Tallahassee, offensively, going 3-for-4 and 2-for-2, respectively. Both players drove in a run. 

NOTE: Any scheduling updates on Friday's doubleheader against Gulf Coast State will be posted to www.TCCeagles.com as they become available.