Lady Chaps eke out sweep of RC

The Vernon College Lady Chaparrals picked up a sweep of the Ranger College women's softball team on Saturday at Ron Butler Field. But it didn't come easy.

Vernon scored four runs in the fifth inning in Game 2 and then held on to claim an 8-5 come-from-behind victory on a cold, windy day. Wind gusts exceeded 20 mph throughout the afternoon.

The Lady Chaps, now third in the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference standings, took an early lead in the nightcap. Vernon shortstop Pal Egan hit a two-run home run over the fence in left field in the top of the first.

Ranger starter Jackie Hernandez took control from there. She retired 15 of the next 19 batters she faced before being lifted in the fifth.

RC catcher Allyson Rodriguez got one of the runs back for Ranger in the home half of the first. She led off the inning with a double. After Sidney Garcia had sacrificed her to third, Rodriguez raced home with the Lady Rangers' first run on a one-out single by Abby Luna.

Ranger took the lead in the second. The Lady Rangers, sparked by another double by Rodriguez, pushed three runs across the place and took a 4-2 advantage.

Macey Fogelman opened the Lady Rangers' outburst with a one-out single. Moments later, Caitlin Rangel drilled a single to right to give RC a pair of runners. One out later, Rodriguez tagged Vernon starter Alyssa Delagarza for a two-run double. Rodriguez came home minutes later when the VC third baseman misplayed a grounder off the bat of Garza.

The Lady Chaps roared back in the fifth. Seven of the Lady Chaps' first nine batters reached base in the frame, allowing Vernon to score four times and grab a 6-4 lead.

Mercedes Vergara helped Ranger get one of the runs back in the bottom of the fifth. She smashed a run-scoring double to right field that scored Amanda Perez, who went 2-for-3 in the game with a walk.

Vernon tacked on additional runs in the sixth and seventh to seal the win.

The Lady Chaps, despite a solid outing from RC started Darrian Smith, took Game 1 by a 5-0 score.

Vernon broke open a tight 1-0 contest in the fourth by plating four runs.

With the losses, Ranger College fell to 13-25 for the season and, more importantly, fell to 6-12 in NTJCAC play. The Lady Rangers trail Grayson College by two games in the race for the sixth, and final, berth in the upcoming NTJCAC tournament, which will be held the first week in May in Weatherford.

Ranger will make its next home appearance on April 10 when they host conference-leading Temple. Games are scheduled for 1 and 3 p.m.