The Galveston College softball team proved why they are ranked among the Top 20 softball teams in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Division I pre-season rankings after sweeping Ranger College in the Whitecaps home-opening series Jan. 30-31 at the Lassie League Complex.
GC defeated the Rangers 16-1 and 13-2 on the first day of back-to-back doubleheaders and followed up the next day by no-hitting RC, 8-0 and 13-0. Overall, GC outscored the Rangers 50-3 in the four-game set.
“The team was relentless and kept up the pressure on our opponent every inning of each game we played in this series,” said Whitecaps Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach, Kelly Raines. “The team had a lot of fun out there and it’s great to win the home-opening series, especially having back-to-back no-hitters. It’s a long season and we have a long way to go yet, but I’m happy with the direction we’re headed.”
With the sweep, the Whitecaps improved to 4-0 on the season.
GC’s Jenna Johnston pitched five innings in the Whitecaps 16-1 victory. She allowed only one run on two hits and struck out 11. Designated player Karlie Barba went 3-for-4 and with three RBIs, second baseman Samantha Gonzalez went 2-for-3, hit a pair of homers and had four RBIs, while shortstop Ella Herrewig went 2-for-2 and drove in another four runs.
In the second game of the home opener, GC’s Barba pitched five full innings and gave up two runs on six hits, and struck out three opposing batters. Whitecaps shortstop Herrewig went 2-for-3 and brought in three runs while first baseman Tallulah Civoniceva went 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBIs.
The Whitecaps followed the home-opening wins with an encore by no-hitting the Rangers.
Johnston (2-0) picked up where she left off the previous day by pitching five innings of no-hit ball and striking out eight.
Civoniceva and Barba each hit homers to combine for half of GC’s run production in the first game of the second day’s doubleheaders.
Finally, Barba (2-0) hurled four innings of hitless ball, striking out two, while Brynn Glidewell closed out the fifth and final inning for the Whitecaps to seal the series sweep and back-to-back no-hitters.
GC’s away games against Wallace State Community College-Hanceville on Feb. 2 and St. Thomas University on Feb. 7 were canceled, but will be rescheduled for a later date.
The Whitecaps will be back at their home field with a pair of games on Feb. 10 against Grayson College and on Feb. 15 against Monroe College. Both series will be played at 12 and 2 p.m. at the Lassie League Complex.
For more information about the Galveston College Whitecaps softball program, rosters and season schedule, visit https://www.gcwhitecaps.com/landing/index.
ABOUT GALVESTON COLLEGE
Galveston College was founded in 1967 and is a comprehensive community college providing the residents of Galveston Island and the surrounding region with academic, workforce development, continuing education and community service programs.