Lamar State College Port Arthur took what appeared to be a comfortable three-run lead into the sixth inning against Kilgore College in the second game of a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, March 3. The Rangers had the last word, though, as they pounded out 14 runs over the final two innings for an 18-7 decision at Marauders Field in Lumberton.
The Hawks dropped to 5-10 overall for the season as they finish up their non-conference schedule. LSCPA will travel to Beeville to take on Coastal Bend College on Saturday, March 13, as they get NJCAA Region 14 play underway.
Kilgore jumped out to a 2-run lead to start Wednesday's second game but the Seahawks would answer in quick succession, scoring in the first, third and fourth innings for a 3-2 advantage.
Cameron Niedenthal singled in the first, went to second on a Kaitlyn Samarripa walk and eventually to third on a Savannah Trahan single. Niedenthal earned the Seahawks' first run of the game on a stolen base.
In the third inning, Samarripa evened the score at 2-2 with her second home run of the day. The Seahawks took the lead, 3-2, with Niedenthal doubled home Maylin Louvier, who had reached on a line drive single to center one play earlier.
Kilgore came back to take a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth. That didn't sit well with the Seahawks who would retake the lead, 5-4, when Kayci Spittler doubled home two runs. Savannah Trahan opened the inning wtih a single and Celeste Salazar reached on the next at-bat thanks to a Kilgore fielding error. Gabby Tims was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting up Spittler's two-run double.
The Seahawks would score on the next at-bat when Brianna Ramirez popped out in foul territory, giving Tims the opportunity to tag up from third for the score and a 6-4 advantage. Louvier doubled to left to bring home Alexa Gracia, who had reached originally on a fielder's choice.
LSCPA's momentum came to a crashing halt, though, when a collision at second base in the top of the sixth sent Louvier out of the game. The Rangers scored nine runs before the Hawks could stop the runaway. In the seventh, Kilgore added five more for the 18-7 final.
Louvier, Niedenthal and Spittler all had doubles and Samarripa a home run as they all picked up two hits apiece for the Seahawks. Trahan also had a two-hit performance as the Hawks collected 11 hits over seven innings. Niedenthal had two stolen bases and Trahan had one base theft.
Samarripa pitched a doozy early but eventually allowed 18 runs, 15 earned, on 17 hits in taking the loss. She had four strikeouts and six walks in 6.2 innings of work.
