The Parkside softball team went toe-to-toe with a pair of the best teams in the nation on Sunday to close out the Captain D's Surf & Turf Classic, as the Rangers fell 4-1 to last year's NCAA Runner-up and then lost on a walkoff in the bottom of the seventh to the No. 7 ranked team in the nation.
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Game 1: TAMU-Kingsville 4, Parkside 1
The Rangers' offense was held in check in the first game of the day, as the team was held to two hits. Junior
Alyssa Laxson hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, her second home run of the weekend. The Javalinas scored runs in the first and second, and two in the third.
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Freshman
Alex Wooten came through with Parkside's other hit, while seniors
Megan Aliverti and
Jessica Crull each drew a walk apiece. Sophomore
Kiley Akey pitched her second straight complete game, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks with three strikeouts.
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Game 2: No. 7 North Georgia 3, Parkside 2
The No. 7 ranked team in the nation needed a walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat the Rangers. Freshman
Cassie Rutledge hit her first career home run in the top of the first inning to put the Rangers up 1-0 early on. That lead was erased in the bottom of the first inning as the Nighthawks scored a run, tying it at 1-1. After a scoreless second and third inning, UNG plated another run in the fourth to take their first lead of the game. This time Parkside responded, as senior
Allison Hausl came in to score on an error to tie it up. Hausl singled to lead off the inning and
Dani Evans also singled in the inning.
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Walek went 1-for-4 with an RBI while Rutledge had her home run. Aliverti, Hausl, Evans and freshman
Alex Wooten all tallied hits in the game as well. Senior
Alyssa McClelland went all 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk with one strikeout.
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WHAT'S NEXT
The Rangers will have 10 days off before GLIAC play begins on March 18 where the Rangers will make a midweek trip to Ashland for a doubleheader. The home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24 against Lewis at Case Softball Complex.
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