Todd Ryals

Lady Wildcats Lose Close One to ETBU

4/7/2017 10:21:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

Box Score

With runs at a premium in the first game of the Louisiana College Wildcats series opener against rival East Texas Baptist University, it was two errors on one play in the bottom of the first that allowed two runs to score that proved to be the difference in the game. ETBU took a 2-1 victory in the game on Friday night and dropped the Wildcats record to 24-7 overall and 18-4 in conference play. The teams will finish their series with a doubleheader that begins at 12 p.m.

After a 1-2-3 inning for the Wildcats to start the game, a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning set the table for the Tigers. A steal of second and a walk put runners at first and second with no outs. The Tigers would score two runs on two Wildcat errors on a double steal and take an early 2-0 lead in the game. Starter Savannah Settle walked the next batter, but got a ground out and two strikeout to end the inning.

A scoreless second inning gave way to the third, where the Wildcats cut the Tiger lead in half. With 2-out in the inning, leadoff batter Shelby Bergeron drew a walk bringing up freshman second baseman Sami Walters. She ripped a triple down the right field line that scored Bergeron from first. Mattie Stine was unable to continue the rally and flew out to center, leaving Walters at third base.

The Wildcats got a 2-out double in the top of the sixth, her 12th of the season, was the next scoring chance for LC, but once again was unable to get the key hit they needed to tie the game. In the top of the seventh, with the score still 2-1 in the Tigers favor, Shea Smith doubled to left center field on the first pitch of the inning representing the Wildcats game tying run. An infield single from Morgan Dennis and more aggressive base running put runners at second and third with no-out. After back-to-back pop ups on the infield, and a walk to pinch-hitter Sydney Falcon, the bases were loaded with 2-out for leadoff batter Shelby Bergeron. A lengthy battle at the plate, that including six foul balls, ended with Bergeron fouling out to the drawn in third baseman to end the game.

Savannah Settle was the unlucky losing pitcher in the game, allowing two runs on four hits with six strikeouts, her fourth loss of the season. Five Wildcats had hits in the game with Sami Walters driving in the Wildcats only run on her triple to right in the third. The Wildcats had three extra base hits in the game, doubles from Mattie Stine and Shea Smith, and the triple from Walters.

The series with ETBU resumes Saturday with a doubleheader that begins at 12 p.m. LC returns to Wildcat Park next weekend for their regular season home series finale against the University of Texas at Tyler. Stay connected to Louisiana College softball a www.lcwildcats.new, following @LC_sftball on Twitter, and liking LC Athletics on Facebook.

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