Ranger softball loses first game, but defeats Temple College in second match

KILGORE, TX -- The Rangers held a 1-1 tie through five innings to Temple College in the first softball game of a doubleheader Feb. 26. But big sixth and seventh innings for Temple sealed the 12-1 victory for the Leopards. In the second game, Allissa McClellan pitched all seven innings, earining the 2-1 victory for KC.

TEMPLE, 12, KILGORE 1

Temple College pulled away late for a 12-1 victory Feb. 26, scoring 11 runs in the final two innings.

Temple scored the first run of the game in the second inning with a single by Aahmyri Kennedy.

In the bottom of the fourth, KC tied the game up with an RBI single by Haylei Acosta.

That tie held up through five innings, but Temple broke the game open by scoring 11 runs in the final two stanzas.

Alissa McClellan started the game for KC, pitching five innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, striking out three and walking none. Olivia Gilzow threw two innings out of the bullpen.

Acosta led KC in hits. She was 2-for-3 at the plate.

KILGORE 2, TEMPLE 1

Alissa McClellan pitched an absolute gem for KC, defeating Temple College, 2-1, in the second game of the doubleheader.

KC got on the board first in the second inning when Akyshia Cottrell singled on a 1-2 count, scoring two runs.

Temple made things interesting in the top of the seventh inning when Aahmyri Kennedy scored on a sacrifice fly by Kennan Nunamaker, cutting the KC lead to one run. 

But that's as close as they would get. On the next pitch, Temple's Shay Grace popped out to second baseman Emalynn Redmann to seal the Ranger victory.

Alissa McClellan earned the victory for KC, allowing nine hits and one run over seven innings, striking out two and walking one.

Lauren Teterault started the game for Temple, allowing only three hits and two runs over one and two-thirds innings and striking out three.

Akyshia Cottrell led the Rangers with two hits in three at bats, and KC didn't commit a single error in the field.