TYLER, Texas – The Louisiana Christian University softball team started a busy week by finishing off the four game, home-and-home season sweep of the Texas College Steers, taking game 1, 4-3, before closing out game 2, 6-4, Tuesday afternoon at Fun Forest Park.
 
Game 1 – Louisiana Christian 4, Texas College 3
 
The Wildcats found themselves facing an early deficit as the Steers got a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead.
 
LCU did most of its damage in the top of the third inning, taking advantage of a Texas College error to load the bases with no outs. After a fielder's choice recorded the first out of the inning, KayeLea Dearmon tied things up as she dropped a base hit into right field, scoring McKenzie Montgomery and Emma Hunt. Following a walk to re-load the bases, Olivia Coaker's fly ball to left did the job, allowing Meredith Perry to tag up at third and come home to give LCU the lead.
 
But that lead would not last long as the Steers tied the score back up at 3-3 in the bottom half of the inning on a two-out RBI single.
 
It remained that way until the final play of the top of the sixth inning. With runners on first and second and two outs, KayeLea Dearmon came through again, shooting a base hit back up the middle which gave McKenzie Montgomery the chance to race around third and come home, scoring just before the third out of the inning was recorded right behind her at third base to give the Wildcats the lead. That was the first of ten straight plays where outs were recorded as the bottom of the sixth and both halves of the seventh inning went three up, three down to end the game in LCU's favor.
 
KayeLea Dearmon enjoyed game one, going three-for-four at the plate with three RBI. McKenzie Montgomery went one-for-three with a double and scored twice. Jordan Dauthier's one base hit in four at bats was a double. Olivia Coaker knocked in a run. Emma Hunt and Meredith Perry each scored once.
 
Olivia Coaker (3-1) went the distance in the circle for the Wildcats as she threw all seven innings and allowed three hits and three runs, two earned, struck out three and didn't walk any batters to get the win in the circle.
 
Game 2 – Louisiana Christian 6, Texas College 4
 
Meredith Perry got the Wildcats on the board first in the top of the first inning of the nightcap. After beating out an infield single with one out, Perry stole second, moved to third on a passed ball, and scored as KayeLea Dearmon rolled a ball over to first base for the game's first run.
 
Texas College tied the score in the bottom of the second inning, but LCU quickly got the lead back in the third inning. BreAnna Corkern led off with an infield base hit, beating out a ball to the shortstop. With Candace Hobbs taking Corkern's place on the base paths, Desiree Squires laid down a bunt that moved Hobbs to second. She advanced to third on Meredith Perry's single to center and scored on another KayeLea Dearmon ground ball to first, making it 2-1 Wildcats.
 
The sixth inning proved to be quite fruitful for the Wildcats, getting four key insurance runs, runs that would prove vital in the result. KayeLea Dearmon got it started with a base hit to center field. Lexie Marks took Dearmon's spot on first and promptly stole second base. She came home on Kayla Dauthier's double to center. A strikeout and a ground ball to shortstop erased Kayla Dauthier at third base and left the Wildcats with a runner on first and two outs, but that would only lead to three two-out runs for LCU. Miah Broussard helped her own cause with a double to left, scoring Jordan Dauthier all the way around from first base. Jaclyn Deason provided the big blow, a two-run shot to left to give the Wildcats a 6-1 lead. LCU loaded the bases again, but a pop up ended the inning with no more runs.
 
Things got a bit iffy in the bottom of the seventh inning for the Wildcats as a pair of errors allowed the Steers to score three runs and bring the tying run to the plate, but a ground ball to short ended the game as LCU held off Texas College for the win.
 
BreAnna Corkern went two-for-two in game two with a double and a walk. Meredith Perry went two-for-three with a run scored and two stolen bases. KayeLea Dearmon went one-for-four with two RBI. Jaclyn Deason's one hit in the game was a two-run home run, her second homer of the season. Kayla Dauthier's one hit was a double and knocked in a run. Miah Broussard also had a double with a RBI and run scored.
 
Miah Broussard (6-1) threw a complete game as well, allowing six hits and four runs, one earned, with two walks and three strikeouts.
 
The Wildcats (22-13, 11-5 RRAC) step out of conference for a midweek doubleheader at home against NCAA Division I Grambling State. First pitch of Wednesday's twin bill against the Tigers (16-15, 4-8 SWAC) is set for 4:00 P.M. at Wildcat Park.