#TCCSoftball rallies to sweep Pensacola State

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (March 23, 2016) – Tallahassee Community College rallied from a 4-0 deficit and defeated Pensacola State College, 5-4, in game two of Wednesday's Panhandle Conference doubleheader to complete a sweep against the Pirates. 

Tallahassee picked up a 7-5 win in game one. 

With game two tied at 4-all, Julianne Gillo led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, and Khayreyah Parrish's sac-bunt moved pinch runner Jaylene Pryor into scoring position. The next batter, Brooke Marendino, hit a grounder to second base but the ball squirted through the glove of Courtney Heinritz, allowing Pryor to score the eventual game-winning run.

Alexandra Cook (9-7) picked up the complete-game victory after notching her first save in game one.  Cook allowed only four hits and all four runs she allowed were unearned.

After a two-out error extended the Pirates' second at-bat, Jenna Bobbitt smacked an opposite-field grand slam to put Tallahassee in a 4-0 hole.

The Eagles began chipping away in their half of the second when Madisen Blair led off the inning with a solo home run to left.

An inning later, Alycia Smith's RBI-ground out scored Parrish from third, and Kristin Gunter doubled home Marendino to cut Pensacola State's lead to a single run.

Fourth-inning doubles by Alyssa NeSmith and Marendino tied the game at four.

Blair was 2-for-3 after going 3-for-4 in the opener. NeSmith was 2-for-3, and Marendino was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

In game one, it was Tallahassee who raced out to a big lead.

After scoring two runs in the first, the Eagles padded their lead in the second.

Parrish bunted her way on, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a fielder's choice for the first run of the inning. RBI-singles by Elisa Cecchetti and Blair extended the lead to 5-0, and the Eagles were poised for more, loading the bases with nobody out. A force out at home, a strikeout and ground out ended the rally and almost proved costly.

Tallahassee eventually led 6-0 before Pensacola State's offense caught fire.

The Pirates scored twice in the fourth and three more times in the fifth to pull within a run and knock out Tallahassee starter Raya Moncus.

Tallahassee picked up an insurance run in the sixth when NeSmith doubled home Blair from first.

Moncus (7-5) picked up the win with 4.2 innings of work. She allowed six hits and five runs while striking out two.

Cook allowed one hit over the final 2.1 innings for the save.

Smith was 2-for-4 and scored three runs. Gunter was 2-for-4 and drove in two. Cecchetti was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Parrish was 2-for-3 and scored a run.

The wins improved Tallahassee (17-13) to 3-3 in PC play heading into Saturday's home doubleheader against Gulf Coast State College. Game one will begin at 1 p.m.