Eagles improve postseason chances with doubleheader split

By Karl Hunt, TCC Sports Information

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (April 7, 2015) – For the third series in a row the Tallahassee Community College Eagles split a doubleheader with a Panhandle Conference softball opponent.  On Tuesday against Gulf Coast State College, the Eagles lost the first game, 6-3, then followed it up with a 4-2, 10-inning triumph in game two. 

The Eagles are now 25-13 this season and sit at 5-7 in Panhandle Conference play with just four games remaining in league action. Tallahassee pulled within one game of second-place Pensacola State College (6-6) but is only one game ahead of both Gulf Coast State (3-7). and Northwest Florida State College (3-7).

Game one did not go in the Eagles' favor as the Commodores laid claim to a 6-3 victory.

The Eagles took an early lead in the first inning scoring a run but Gulf Coast came right back with a run of its own to tie the game at 1-1.

Neither team scored until the fifth inning when the Eagles plated two runs to take a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom half of the inning.

Tallahassee's lead was short-lived, however, as the Commodores scored three runs to claim a 4-3 lead. Gulf Coast State added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth to seal the 6-3 game one victory.

Taesha DuBoise went 4-for-4 from the plate scoring two runs for the Eagles.  

Alexandra Cook got the start in the circle for the Eagles and pitched her ninth complete game.  She took the game one loss, however, giving up seven hits and four earned runs.

In game two, the Eagles needed extra innings to come away with a 4-2 victory.  The 10-inning affair was the Eagles' third win in as many tries in extra innings in 2015. 

As they did in Tuesday's opener, the Eagles jumped out to an early lead, scoring a run in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Tallahassee added a run in the fifth to push its lead to 2-0.

Gulf Coast State got on the board with a run in the sixth then tied the game in its final at-bat to force extra innings. 

After playing a scoreless eighth and ninth, Tallahassee broke the 2-all tie in the 10th inning.

After getting on base Danielle Patterson moved into scoring position when she stole third.  DuBoise drove her in for the go-ahead score, and Tallahassee added an insurance run before the inning ended. 

DuBoise was perfect again from the plate, going 5-for-5 and scoring once.

Mariah Rivera started in the circle for the Eagles and pitched all 10 innings.  She gave up eight hits and struck out eight batters in game two.

The Eagles will step out of Panhandle Conference play on Friday for a trip to Florida State College at Jacksonville. The first game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.