Howerton’s Gem Leads AC in Opener
Playing a second doubleheader in as many days – the second one against the nation’s top team, no less – the No. 12 Angelina College Lady Roadrunners put aside the fatigue in search of a confidence boost in the regular-season finale.
They got the boost, splitting with No. 1 Tyler College in Saturday’s doubleheader, winning the opener by a 2-1 score and falling short 6-3 in the nightcap.
Freshman Whitney Howerton tossed a gem in the first game, holding the Lady Apaches hitless and scoreless for six innings before Tyler picked up a seventh-inning run. Howerton struck out just one hitter, but induced 15 fly-ball outs in earning the complete-game win.
AC’s bats weren’t pounding the ball as they typically do, but the Lady ‘Runners were able to scratch out the only two runs they needed. Kayla Boucher’s RBI single in the third scored Jynelle Pangelinan, and Boucher drove in pinch runner Shannon Stoker with another single in the fifth.
AC found itself on the wrong end of a no-hit bid in the nightcap, with Lady Apache pitcher Alicia Garcia keeping the Lady Roadrunners off-balance for four full innings. Garcia was a walk shy of a perfect game at that point, but then AC began pecking away in the fifth. Kayla Lahrmann singled for the team’s first hit, coming around to break up the shutout on Miranda Wiggins’ run-scoring single. In the sixth, Taylor Davis blasted her 14th homer of the season, a solo shot over the left field wall. Shay Vegas singled and scored ahead of Lahrmann’s single to cut the Tyler lead to 6-3; but Tyler shut the door in the seventh to preserve the Lady Apaches’ 6-3 win.
The game ended the regular season for the Lady Roadrunners, who await seeding for next week’s Region XIV Conference Tournament scheduled to begin on Thursday at San Jacinto College.
Following the game, the team recognized sophomores Heather Kulhanek, Kayla Lahrmann, Kayla Boucher and Tiffany Hinkelman.
The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.
