The No. 22 Temple College softball team hosted No. 6 Odessa College at the Danny Scott Sports Complex on Friday in a rematch of a series from Feb. 7-8 that was played at Wrangler Stadium.
Dalanee Eckster and Izzy Garcia each hurled shutouts, as the pair held the powerful Wrangler offense to five hits in 14 innings and received timely offense in the Leopards' doubleheader sweep.
Scores of the twin-bill were 3-0 and 5-0.
In the opener, Ekster got good plays from her defense early in the game. Angie DeLeon robbed Phoenix Preciado of an extra-base hit on a diving grab down the third-base line to start the game. Jasmine Benavidez made a couple snags in the hole between shortstop and third, and another throw on the run across the infield.
Alyssa Lozano doubled to start the third inning, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Preciado. Kayla Hernandez flew out to Marli Kennedy in center field, and Lozano tagged from third base to attempt to score. Kennedy fired a throw to Giselle Salazar, and Salazar applied the tag to complete the double play, end the inning, and end the threat.
Brooklyn Walton doubled to start the bottom of the third, and advanced to third base on a groundout. However, Walton was stranded at third on a strikeout and groundout.
The Leopards broke into the run column in the fourth inning. Benavidez doubled to start the inning, and Maddi Durnell sacrifice bunted Benavidez to third. DeLeon's pop fly dropped into left field for a single to score Benavidez.
Jaycie Pacheco doubled to give the Wranglers another opportunity to score in the top of the fifth. Ekster induced a groundout and a flyout to end the threat.
Temple scored twice in the bottom of the fifth. Walton doubled and Lexi Dudeczka singled her to third. With one out, Reese Cottrell drilled a double to right field to score Walton and Dudeczka to increase the Leopards advantage to 3-0.
Ekster held the Wranglers in check the rest of the contest to pick up her first win, first shutout, and first complete game of her career. She tossed seven innings, allowed four hits, hit Tyra Martin twice, and walked one.
Walton and Dudeczka both had two hits and Cottrell logged two RBI.
Angelique Iredale led Odessa with two hits and two stolen bases.
Jayda Lorigan took the complete game loss. Lorigan dealt six innings, allowed three runs on eight hits, struck out seven and walked one.
In the second game, Garcia set the tone by striking out the side in the top of the first.
The Leopards cashed in immediately in the bottom of the inning. Dudeczka led off with a double on the third pitch from Seniah Haines. Benavidez doubled down the left field line to score Dudeczka, and Garcia's sacrifice fly scored Benavidez to put Temple up 2-0.
DeLeon's single to start the bottom of the second set up the Leopards' next score. With two outs, Walton singled to left to plate DeLeon to increase Temple's lead to three.
Odessa's lone hit of the game at the start of the fourth, when Hernandez hit a pop fly off the tip of KyLeigh Cambiano's outstretched glove into right field. The defense got three outs to keep the Odessa runner at first to end the inning.
The Leopards picked up two more insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Benavidez walked and Cottrell singled. Garcia hit a sharp ground ball that got by Martin at second base to score Benavidez and Cottrell to give Temple a 5-0 lead.
Garcia retired the final 12 batters in order to pick up the complete game victory. Garcia pitched seven innings, allowed one hit, one walk, and struck out nine.
DeLeon led Temple's eight-hit attack with two hits. Garcia drove in three.
Haines picked up the loss for Odessa in the circle. She dealt five innings, allowed five runs on five hits, struck out three, and walked two. Kasi Cruz pitched an inning of relief.
Temple (14-4) will take on Tyler Junior College on Monday at 1 pm and 3 pm at the Danny Scott Sports Complex. The Leopards will host Western Texas College to complete the eight-game homestand with a doubleheader on Tuesday.