LSCPA sports information

One run was the difference between happiness and heartache as Lamar State College Port Arthur split its home doubleheader with Blinn College on Friday afternoon, taking the first game 2-1, then falling 2-1 in Game 2.

The Seahawks, now 13-5 in NJCAA Region 14 play and 27-25 overall, handed the Buccaneers only their second conference loss of the year when sophomore Savana Guidry slapped a walk-off RBI single to win the first game 2-1.

LSCPA held a 1-0 lead all the way into the seventh inning when Blinn managed to knot the game at a run apiece on a one-out RBI double to center. Starting pitcher Bri White had worked the first six innings, allowing eight hits but only that one earned run. Kelsey Stewart came in for the Hawks and sat down the next two hitters on a groundout and popup.

Facing a two-ball, two-strike count in the first at-bat of the bottom half of the seventh, White blooped a line drive to left for a single. Marisol Ynfante took to the base paths in place of White and Desiree Barerra moved her to second on a sacrifice bunt.

Clarissa Moreno singled a 1-2 count pitch to third but Ynfante was unable to advance because of the placement of hit.

Guidry, who has already committed to playing at Lamar next season, took a called first strike then lined a shot to left, plating Ynfante for the win.

Guidry finished 2 for 4 and Moreno was 2 for 3. White and Morgan Chavarria represented the Seahawks’ other two hits in the game. Stewart claimed the win on the hill.

The Seahawks’ pitching ace, freshman Ashley May, came on in the second game to throw a two-hit performance, allowing two earned runs with a strikeout and two walks. And while that typically would win most any game, missed offensive opportunities by the Hawks would ensure a Game 2 loss.

The Hawks picked up nine hits but could manage just one run after leaving nine runners stranded over the seven-inning contest.

Blinn took a 1-0 lead in the second inning but the Seahawks would come back to tie the game in the fifth. LSCPA opened the fifth with back-to-back singles from Chavarria and Barerra. A sacrifice bunt by Moreno moved the runners and an intentional walk to Guidry loaded the bases with just one out.

Sophomore Kayla Sheridan singled to center to scored Chavarria to tie the game at 1-1 but the next two hitters sat down in succession, leaving two runners on base.

Blinn added the go-ahead run in the sixth after an error allowed the leadoff hitter on first. A throwing error on the next at-bat allowed the runner to move from first to third and the ensuing hitter slapped a ground ball to left to get the 2-1 lead.

The Seahawks’ White reached in the bottom of the sixth but could move no further. May, who picked up the loss on the mound, sat down the next three hitters in order, grounder-popup-popup, setting up another chance for LSCPA to take a seventh-inning walkaway win.

It seemed to be in the cards for the Seahawks when Moreno led off with a single and Guidry coming to plate in the crunch yet again. The sophomore popped up, though, and Sheridan struck out looking to give LSCPA two outs.

Alexis Perez walked to put runners at first and second, but May was unable to get a bead on the ball, striking out swinging to end the game.

White was 2 for 3 with a double while Perez also had a double in the game. Guidry picked up her eighth triple of the season in going 1 for 3. Sheridan, who was 1 for 4, got the Hawks’ lone RBI of the game.

The split moved Blinn’s conference record to 14-2.

Things won’t be any easier for the Hawks as they return to action Saturday, traveling to face San Jacinto College for a 1 p.m. doubleheader. San Jacinto had won 12 straight conference games before splitting with Galveston College this past weekend to move to 15-3 in league play. Two non-conference losses to LSU-Eunice on Wednesday has San Jacinto on a three-game losing skid heading into its doubleheader with LSCPA.

Saturday’s game video will be broadcast live starting at 12:45 at www.coopersports.net.