By By BRUCE HIXON – Sports Editor
If the Jefferson Davis Community College Lady Warhawks softball team falls a game short of state tournament qualification, they may very well look back at Saturday's home doubleheader split as one of their downfalls.
JDCC rallied for a 6-5 win in game one, but dropped a 7-5 decision in eight innings in game two.
JDCC (15-26 overall and 5-9 in the Alabama Community College Conference south division) rallied for a 6-5 win game one. Bishop State (12-11 overall and 8-3 in the ACCC) had a 4-1 advantage headed into the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Lady Warhawks were able to cut into that gap when a walk to Tanna Fontes, a single by Lakyn Newton and a sacrifice by Kayla Galloway set up RBI groundouts by Nikki Madden and Katie Simmons to make it 4-3.
Three more JDCC runs in the bottom of the sixth put the home team up 6-4. Singles by Stacy Sanders and Makeyia Burt set up an RBI single by Fontes and a two-run double by Newton. It was Newton's fourth hit of the game.
Madden picked up the win, as she fanned five and allowed eight hits in a complete game effort.
The Lady Warhawks rallied from deficits of 4-2 and 5-3 to force extra innings in game two. JDCC cut the gap to 5-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning when Madden walked with the bases loaded. The Lady Warhawks tied the game one inning later when Jessica Cunningham singled home Simmons.
Bishop State scored twice in the top of the eighth inning to win it. Tiffany Moore was placed on second base to start the inning under tiebreaker rules. Kandis Tate grounded out, but Brittany Blount came through with an RBI single to put the Lady Wildcats up 6-5. An error on a ball hit by Sherri White allowed Bishop State to pick up an additional insurance run.
Three hits by Galloway paced JDCC's offense. Cunningham, Madden and Burt all had two.
Newton, who added a single and an RBI, took the loss on the mound where she had six strikeouts.
The Lady Warhawks, who hosted Alabama Southern Tuesday, conclude the home portion of their schedule Thursday when they entertain ACCC south leader Wallace State-Dothan for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
Game one
Bishop State 004 000 1 – 5 8 0
JDCC 010 023 X – 6 11 3
Game two
Bishop State 022 100 02 – 7 8 0
JDCC 201 110 00 – 5 13 3