Jacks Split Last Road Series
UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. — The Alpena Community College softball team closed out its road schedule Wednesday afternoon with a split of a doubleheader against Delta College, taking the opener 9-6 before dropping the nightcap 4-3. The split leaves the Lumberjacks 5-30 overall and 4-18 in conference play, and gives ACC a 2-3 record in the season series against Delta.
Game 1: ACC 9, Delta College 6
Jordan Ashley went the distance in the circle, pitching all seven innings and earning the win while striking out six. She held Delta to four hits over the first four innings before giving up a four-run fifth that made things interesting, but the Lumberjacks had already built enough of a cushion to hold on.
Ashley also supplied the biggest hit of the game, drilling a three-run home run in the sixth inning to blow the game open. The long ball capped a five-run sixth as ACC rallied back from a 6-4 deficit.
The Lumberjacks burst out of the gate in the first inning, scoring four times before recording an out. Jenna Sircely delivered a two-run single and Ava Rospierski followed with a two-run double to chase the early runners home and set the tone. Sircely finished with an RBI on the day while Rospierski added two. Dakota Rachow went 2-for-4 out of the leadoff spot and Magdalyn Sandoval drove in a run in the sixth rally. Reagan Sides drew two walks and scored in the game's decisive frame as well.
Despite spotting Delta a 6-4 lead going into the bottom of the sixth — after the Jacks' rally which she keyed — Ashley slammed the door in the seventh. She induced a lineout to center field that ended a potential rally with two outs and runners moving, closing out the win.
Game 2: Delta College 4, ACC 3
Sircely took the pitching circle in the nightcap and worked the full seven innings, but couldn't get the result. Delta touched her for 12 hits — though the Lumberjacks' defense committed no errors behind her — and the Pioneers pushed across single runs in the fourth, fifth (two), and seventh to hand ACC the loss.
ACC's offense showed some fight, particularly in the fifth. Jordan Ashley doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a Reagan Sides single, and later Dakota Rachow grounded out to drive in a second run. Ashley went 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI in the nightcap — the Lumberjacks' most consistent bat on the day across both games. Alaina Neubecker singled and scored in the sixth after Ashley's second double of the game plated her, but a Sircely lineout ended the threat in a double play.
The Lumberjacks stranded four runners and had opportunities slip away, leaving the tying run on base in the final frame.
Looking Ahead
Sunday's home doubleheader against Bay College will serve as the final chapter of the 2026 season. For the ACC sophomores who will move on after this year — as is the nature of JUCO softball — it will be their last time taking the field as Lumberjacks. The team will be looking to send them out the right way in front of the home crowd.