YOUNGSVILLE, La – The Hinds Community College Softball Team picked up two wins at the Mardi Gras Invitational over the weekend at Youngsville Sports Complex. The Lady Eagles fell in the opening two game of the Invitational but bounced back on Sunday with a 19-2 victory over Pratt CC and a 4-1 victory over National Park College in the second day of the Mardi Gras Invitational.  
 
GAME ONE 
 
Pratt got on the bord first in the contest in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 advantage after one complete. The Hinds' bats began to heat up as they scored seven runs in the top of the second inning to take the 7-1 lead. The Lady Eagles added two additional runs in the top of the third inning, but the Lady Beavers scored a run to make the score 9-2 after three innings of play. 
 
Hinds remained hot at the plate and score six runs in the top of the fourth inning and four runs in the top of the fifth inning to grab the 19-2 run-rule victory and earned the first win of the 2024 season. 
 
Taylor Nelson had two doubles, two homeruns, and five RBI in the contest to lead the Lady Eagles. Lily Ochodnicky went 2-2 at the plate, scored three runs, hit two homeruns, and registered an RBI in the contest. Destiny Crosby and Alexis Moran finished the afternoon with three hits, while Emily Vines and Melissa Lopera each had a couple of hits in the game. Andreya Garrett hit a double in the contest and Sara Long finished the game with a hit. Kyleigh Forsyth went all five innings in the circle for the Lady Eagles and gave up only four hits and totaled two strikeouts. 
 
GAME TWO
 
Looking to finish strong at the Mardi Gras Invitational, the Lady Eagles did just that with a 4-1 victory over National Park College. After a scoreless first three innings of play, NPC scored the first run in the contest in the top of the fourth inning. 
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Hinds responded with four runs of their own to take the 4-1 advantage after four complete innings. The Hinds' defense remained strong for the rest of the contest to grab the 4-1 victory over National Park College and earned the sweep in day two of the Mardi Gras Invitational. 
 
Sara Long led the Lady Eagles with two hits and two RBI in the contest. Alexis Moran also had a couple of hits in the game and score one run for Hinds. Destiny Crosby, Taylor Nelson, Ellie Williamson, Lily Ochodnicky, and Melissa Lopera each had a hit in the win over National Park. Emily Vines got the start in the circle for Hinds and pitched four innings, gave up three hits, and struck out three batters. Emily Vicknair came in relief and earned the victory in the circle for the Lady Eagles. Additionally, she totaled two strikeouts, gave up one hit, and pitched for three innings.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Lady Eagles will return to action on Friday, Feb. 9 for a doubleheader against Baton Rouge Community College in Baton Rouge, La. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 PM. 
 
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