March 12-19, 2023
While the rest of the Angelina College campus experienced Spring Break, the Lady Roadrunner softball and Roadrunner baseball teams stayed busy, with both teams picking up steam as they dive full-speed into Region XIV conference play.
In addition, AC Baseball head coach Jeff Livin surpassed the 800-win plateau.
Following is the recap for the week, along with upcoming events.
Livin Surpasses 800 Wins:
Angelina College head coach Jeff Livin recently surpassed his 800th career win as a head coach, extending his record as the head guy at Roadrunner Baseball with the most all-time wins in program history.
Before arriving at AC, Coach Livin was the head coach at Wayland Baptist University from 1991-1995. He was elected as the Sooner Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1995. Prior to that, he served as an assistant coach at Southwest Texas State University and Southwestern University. Coach Livin played collegiate baseball at Southwestern University; he was selected in the 15th round of the 1984 draft and played for the Houston Astros organization for four years.
Livin’s Roadrunners have averaged more than 30 wins per season since 2003. AC was a conference co-champion in 2005 following a 46-14 season. Throughout his tenure at Angelina College, Coach Livin has had more than 40 players selected in the major league draft. Thus far, nearly 20 former Roadrunners have gone on to play professional baseball. In 2005, Coach Livin was honored as Region XIV North Coach of the Year; and in 2008, he was inducted into the Clarinda A’s Hall of Fame.
Roadrunner Baseball:
The ‘Runners opened the week with a single home game against Alvin College, with AC emptying the bench in an 8-3 loss in non-conference play.
The Roadrunners on Wednesday traveled to Paris College for a Region XIV doubleheader. AC won the opener 3-2 behind two RBI from Sam Hardcastle and a clutch pitching performance from Peyton Fosher and Taylor Seay. Fosher allowed just one earned run over 5 1/3 innings, and Seay wrapped things up late to earn the win after his relief appearance.
AC would drop the nightcap 4-3 in the Dragons’ walk-off win.
Saturday featured a home twin bill against Region XIV North Zone leaders Navarro College. The Roadrunners put together one of their best two-game series of the season, sweeping the Bulldogs 9-6 and 4-3 at Poland Field on the AC campus.
In the opener, the ‘Runners trailed 6-0 early before rallying big in the fourth inning. Trip Cromer finished the game having driven in three runs, Weston Dean and Noah Pate added an RBI each and Carson Dearing and Seay combined for four innings of scoreless relief for the win.
The nightcap saw Dalton Mullins and Pate each launch long solo homers in the first and third innings, respectively. Mason Swidersky added an RBI single in the fourth.
But the big news was the pitching performance from Garret Nail, who carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning – against the league’s second-best hitting team, no less. Nail struck out five Bulldogs while allowing no runs, eventually giving up a pair of seventh-inning singles. Navarro would make things a little dicey with a three-run ninth inning to close the gap to 4-3 in favor of the Roadrunners, but AC closer Tyler McCuistion ended the threat while earning the save.
AC (17-15, 7-9) will host Bossier Parish Community College on Wednesday in a doubleheader scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at Poland Field on the AC campus. The Roadrunners are at Tyler Junior College on Saturday in a twin bill set for a 1 p.m. start.
Lady Roadrunner Softball:
AC’s ladies opened conference play on Wednesday against Alvin College, and by the end of the week, the Lady ‘Runners were 3-1 in conference play.
AC split with Alvin on Wednesday, dropping the opener 4-3 when the Dolphins posted a three-run sixth inning to take the lead for good.
The Lady Roadrunners rebounded in the nightcap, run-ruling Alvin 8-0 in five innings. Pitcher Morgan Louviere shut down the Dolphins from the circle, and Madi Baker and Lace Tangianau drove in two runs each, with Baker providing the walk-off dramatics in the bottom of the fifth inning.
On Saturday, AC earned its first conference sweep of the season. Playing on the turf at Lufkin High School, the Lady ‘Runners took 9-1 and 7-1 wins over Lamar State College-Port Arthur.
In the first game, Skyler Martin collected three RBI, while Hailey Fuentes and Bailey Frenzel knocked in two runs each. Martin, Fuentes and Madi Baker homered in the game.
Louviere earned another pitching win after striking out four Seahawks and allowing a single earned run over five innings.
The Lady ‘Runners finished off the sweep with Tangianau driving in two more runs and Fuentes, Haley Primrose, Kaetlyn Dunbar and Brynn Davis adding to their RBI stats. Mia Gilmore pitched a five-inning shutout, striking out six while allowing just one hit; and Gia Wade threw two innings of relief.
The Lady Roadrunners (12-12, 3-1) will host a doubleheader with Blinn College on Wednesday starting at 1 p.m. AC then travels to Coastal Bend Community College on Saturday, with another double dipper starting at 1 p.m. in Beeville.
For further information, contact AC’s Sports Information Director at gstallard@angelina.edu.
