Whitecaps sweep Cougars, extend win streak to four games

The Galveston College softball team made it four wins in a row after sweeping Coastal Bend College, 3-2 and 6-1, on Wednesday to kick off its almost monthlong stretch of away games.

 

With the pair of away victories in Beeville, the Whitecaps improved to 30-10 overall and 6-4 in the NJCAA DI Region 14 South Conference. GC only trails Alvin College (21-15, 8-2) and San Jacinto College-South (24-22, 8-2) in the standings.

 

The first game between the Whitecaps and Cougars was a pitching duel between freshman hurlers Jadyn Struxness and Kadence Treviño. Both pitchers kept one another's offenses at bay, each tossing seven straight scoreless innings.

 

In the eighth inning, GC third baseman Andrea Tagovailoa broke the scoreless deadlock with a three-run homer to give the visitors a 3-0 lead.

 

The home team rallied with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the same frame, sparked by Treviño, who drove in the scores to help her cause. However, Struxness and the Whitecaps held off the Coogs for a slim 3-2 extra-innings victory.

 

GC's Struxness improved to 14-3 on the season with the late-inning win, allowing two runs and six hits in eight innings, while striking out 15 opposing batters.

 

In the second game of the twin bill, the Whitecaps' offense went to work early, scoring five runs in the first inning. GC added an insurance run in the fifth frame to increase its lead to 6-0.

 

Whitecaps freshman pitcher Daphne Utajara shut down the Cougars' offense for six consecutive innings before giving up a lone run in the seventh inning to win the game, 6-1.

 

Utajara improved to 10-5 on the year with the victory, allowing one run on six hits, while striking out eight batters.

 

GC will play eight of its next 10 games on the road, including conference matchups at San Jacinto College-South on April 11, Lamar State College-Port Arthur on April 15, and Alvin College on April 22. The Whitecaps will return home April 25 to host Blinn College before closing the long stretch on the road April 29 at Angelina College.

 

The next time GC plays at home is April 25 in a conference doubleheader against Blinn College at 1 and 3:30 p.m. A tailgate will be held prior to the twin bill against the Buccaneers, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The tailgate and all GC home games are free and open to the public. All Whitecaps home games are played at the Lassie League Complex's Carter Field, located at 2506 83rd St. in Galveston.

 

For more information about the Galveston College Whitecaps softball program, including rosters and the full season schedule, visit https://www.gcwhitecaps.com/landing/index.