BULLARD — Coming into Wednesday’s Region XIV softball matchup, the defending conference champion Navarro College Bulldogs held a one-game lead over 16th-ranked Tyler Junior College.

Navarro came through with a 5-3 win in Game 1 after TJC starter Halie Vance struck out 11.

Vance took the Game 2 loss as well, 3-2, after a seventh-inning Bulldogs home run gave Navarro a three-game lead over the second-place Apache Ladies.

The visitors went to work in Game 1 with a three-RBI home run from Bulldogs third baseman Catherine Alvarado, the fourth batter to the plate.

TJC’s Halle Sabo blasted a solo dinger in the bottom of the second.

Navarro went up 5-1 before TJC came back.

Grasyn Langley (2 for 3) led off the sixth with a double and scored after a Jaclyn Molenaar RBI single. TJC got another run in the last at-bat of the game after back-to-bat hits with two outs and a Bulldogs error.

Vance, from Chapel Hill, struck out 11 while allowing two walks, seven hits and two earned runs.

Game 2 was a pitchers duel for six innings, with both starters — Stephanie Buenrosto for Navarro and Vance.

Navarro took a 2-0 lead with the help of an RBI-double from Callie Bland.

The Apache Ladies answered right back after Hayley Mills reached base on a Bulldogs error. Two batters later Marina Duran planted a fastball over the left field fence to tie it at 2-2.

After making four run-saving grabs in left field for Navarro, Miranda Worthington launched a high fly ball into the gusting wind blowing out to right field. The ball cleared the fence to regain the Bulldogs lead.

Ashlin Roach had a two out single for TJC in the final appearance at the plate, but a ground out ended the game and the Bulldogs sweep.

TJC (30-10, 10-4 Region XIV) will trek to Mount Pleasant on Friday to play Northeast Texas Community College in a Region XIV doubleheader.

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Game 1

Navarro College 5, Tyler Junior College 3

Navarro 300 110 0 — 5 7 3

TJC 010 011 0 — 3 6 0

Cierra Luna and Nicole Martise. Hallie Vance and Amber Landry. W – Luna. L – Vance. 2B – N: Nicole Martise, Callie Bland. TJC: Hayley Mills, Grasyn Langley. HR: N: Catherine Alvarado (two on, second). TJC: Halle Sabo (solo, second). SB – N: Caitlyn Moerbe. SAC – N: Alyssa Dotson.

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Game 2

Navarro College 3, Tyler Junior College 2

Navarro 000 002 1 — 3 4 2

TJC 000 002 0 — 2 3 3

Stephanie Buenrosto and Nicole Martise. Halie Vance and Amber Landry. W – Buenrosto. L – Vance. HR – N: Miranda Worthington (solo, seventh). TJC: Marina Duran (one on, sixth). SAC – TJC: Rachel Brockhaus, Jaclyn Molenaar.

RECORDS — Navarro College 11-1. TJC 30-10; 10-4