The Temple College Softball team, ranked 10th in the latest NJCAA Division I Top 25 poll, traveled to Gainesville on Saturday to complete their four-game North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference series against North Central Texas College.
The Leopards jumped out to an early lead, set the tone throughout the twin-bill, and swept the doubleheader from the Lions.
Scores of the doubleheader were 18-1 (five innings) and 6-0.
Kaiyah Ratu's three-run homer started the Leopards' scoring parade in the top of the first. Ryley Litchfield singled, stole two bases, and scored on a throwing error to put Temple up 4-0.
Following Kayla Myatt scoring on a wild pitch for the Lions' lone run in the second inning, Temple put together a seven-run third inning. Litchfield singled home KyLeigh Cambiano, Angie DeLeon doubled home Litchfield, Marli Kennedy stolen bases and scored on a throwing error, Lexi Dudeczka drove in Brooklyn Walton on a triple and scored on an error, and Reese Cottrell doubled home Jasmine Benavidez to give Temple an 11-1 lead.
The Leopards added five more runs in the fourth. DeLeon drilled a two-run homer over the center field fence, Dudeczka singled home Kennedy, and Cottrell doubled home Dudeczka and Benavidez to give Temple a 16-1 lead.
TC chipped in two more runs in the fifth. Dudeczka's double scored Autumn Simmons and Maddi Durnell to complete the scoring.
Dudeczka, Cottrell, and Litchfield each had three hits, and DeLeon and Kennedy having added two in Temple's 17-hit attack. Dudeczka had four RBI and Cottrell, Ratu, and DeLeon having each contributed three RBI.
Kat Kram picked up the win in the circle and her second of the series. Kram pitched four innings, allowed one run on two hits, struck out six and walked three. Dalanee Ekster pitched an inning of hitless relief.
Cottrell's first-inning double in game two scored Dudeczka and Benavidez to put Temple up 2-0.
Walton scored on an error off a stolen base to increase the Leopards' lead to three.
Kennedy's double in the sixth inning scored Litchfield and Maycee Griffin, and Benavidez's sacrifice fly scored Dudeczka in the seventh to complete the scoring.
Cottrell and Kennedy each had two RBI and seven different Leopards had hits.
Izzy Garcia picked up her second shutout of the series, having taken a no-hitter into the seventh. Garcia allowed two hits, hit a batter, and struck out ten.
The Leopards will have the conference bye and will make up their doubleheader against Tyler Junior College on Sunday, March 22, at the Danny Scott Sports Complex.