For the second straight day, Odessa College softball player Morgan Colburn found herself watching a fly ball sail toward the left-field foul pole.
After a few excruciating seconds, the freshman hopped in the air and celebrated after she hit a two-out, walk-off home run that gave her team a 6-5 victory Friday against Midland College in the opener of a doubleheader at Wrangler Field.
"I was watching the ball the whole way," Colburn said of the homer. "I thought it was going foul but when I saw the blue (umpire) signal home run, I was excited."
The Lady Wranglers (38-15 overall, 14-2 Western Junior College Athletic Conference) completed the four-game sweep by defeating the Lady Chaparrals 10-7 with another walk-off homer by Jackie Flores.
"I'm worn out," Odessa College head coach Joel Prickett said.
Odessa College's win streak increased to six games, the longest of the season, with the sweep of its WJCAC rival.
Prickett said he also earned his 400th and 401st wins of his 11-year coaching career. He's coached at Odessa College for eight years and Prickett said he coached at El Paso Community College for three seasons prior.
"They were pretty memorable," Prickett said of Friday's walk-off wins. "Two walk-offs, I couldn't have asked for anything better."
Colburn also came up big Thursday, hitting the go-ahead home run in the nightcap of the doubleheader in Midland. The homer lifted Odessa College to a 9-7 victory.
"Golly, that Morgan, you just can't pitch to her," Prickett said after Friday's doubleheader. "The way she's been playing recently she may be our new Jolene (Graham) next year."
Graham put her teammate in the position to win the game.
Odessa College trailed 5-4 going into the bottom of the seventh. Graham hit a double down the third-base line, which bounced off the bag and rolled into the outfield.
Midland College left fielder Marlene Fields charged at the ball, which bounced above her glove and allowed Graham to get home and score the game-tying run. Graham finished the day 2-for-6 with a double and one RBI.
"After that play you just felt like it was going to end up in a good way for Odessa," Prickett said. "The ball was bouncing our way."
In the next at-bat, Colburn hit the walk-off blast. Colburn ended the day 3-for-7 with the home run and a double.
Odessa College's Delia Saucedo (20-3) pitched a complete game with four strikeouts and allowed four earned runs.
Yolanda Rios pitched a complete game with six strikeouts in the first game for Midland College (32-14, 5-7).
In the second game, Odessa College and Midland College were tied at 7-7 in the bottom of the seventh until Flores hit a three-run home run.
"I was pretty nervous," Flores said about her at-bat. "When I got to home plate I told myself, ‘It's time to come through for my team.' And I did."
Flores came through in a big way, launching a 2-2 fastball beyond the center field wall. She said she knew she made solid contact, but wasn't sure if it was going to be a home run.
"I kind of glanced at it a little bit," said Flores, who went 4-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs in the second game. "I was just hoping it got to the outfield. It's a great feeling to finish like that."
Odessa College is not scheduled to play until it faces Frank Phillips College in a road doubleheader on April 20.
Colburn, who has suffered through persistent knee pain this season, said the time off is welcomed.
"We definitely needed the rest," Colburn said. "Getting the time off is going to re-energize us."
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>> Odessa College 6-10, Midland College 5-7
GAME 1
MC................. 001 021 1 - 5 8 5
OC.................. 003 100 2 - 6 6 1
Yolanda Rios and Meghan Macias. Delia Sacuedo and Desiree Ayarzagoitia. W - Saucedo (19-3). L - Rios (15-7).2B - Midland College: Diana De La Paz, Earnysha Scroggins; Odessa College: Emily Beale, Jolene Graham. HR - Midland College: Marlene Fields 1 (1); Odessa College: Morgan Colburn 1 (10).
GAME 2
MC................. 002 103 1 - 7 16 1
OC.................. 003 201 4 - 10 15 1
Holly Herrington, Yolanda Rios (3), Herrington (5) and Meghan Macias. Rachel Thompson, Delia Saucedo (6) and Desiree Ayarzagoitia. W - Saucedo (20-3). L - Herrington (15-6). 2B - Midland College: Marlene Fields, Yolanda Rios; Odessa College: Delia Saucedo, Morgan Colburn. HR - Odessa College: Jackie Flores 2, (8).
Records - Midland College: 32-14 overall, 5-7 WJCAC; Odessa College: 38-15, 14-2.
