Softball Drops Pair of One-Run Games

2/27/2018 11:25:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

After a long break from actual game action due to multiple weather postponements, the Louisiana College softball team finally returned to the field on Tuesday night in doubleheader at Birmingham-Southern College. The Wildcats could not pull out two close games against the Panthers, as BSC took the pair by one run each time with scores of 2-1 and 6-5. LC returns to the field this Friday as they open American Southwest Conference with a three game series against the University of the Ozarks at Wildcat Park.

Game 1

Birmingham-Southern struck first in the bottom of the first inning with their first hit of the game clearing the right center field wall, putting them ahead 2-0. Outside of the one mistake pitch on the homerun, Wildcat starter Savannah Settle only allowed one other hit in the game, a harmless single through the right side in the bottom of the third. The senior retired nine of the last 10 batters she faced to finish the game.

The unfortunate side for the Wildcats was that BSC pitcher Haley Crumpton was equal to the task that Settle presented. After her first inning homerun that gave herself the lead, Crumpton did not allow a hit to the Wildcats through the first five innings of the game. It wasn't until Samantha Cetta singled to lead off the sixth that the Wildcats reached via a batted ball.

The base hit started a rally for the Wildcats as Shelby Bergeron reached on a fielder's choice and Briley Johnston beat out a bunt single putting runners at the corners with one out. Bergeron was able to come in from third on a failed pick off attempt and error at third, also moving Johnston into scoring position as the tying run. She was left standing there at the end of the inning as the next two batters struck out and grounded out to end the frame.

LC had one more chance to tie the game following a 2-out double by Bria White in the top of the seventh, but that would be the end for the Wildcats as Shea Smith struck out to end the game.

Game 2

The Wildcats got on the board first in the second game of the day, taking advantage of two walks to start the inning. Peyton Eschette singled to right to put the Wildcats on top 1-0 early in the game. A third walk in the inning loaded the bases, but a strike out ended the threat leaving the Wildcats with just the one run.

Their lead did not last long however as BSC stormed ahead with a four run bottom of the inning as the error bug bit the LC defense once again. The Wildcats began to work their way back from the three-run deficit in their next trip to the plate as Samantha Cetta picked up an RBI single in the third, and Eschette scored on a sacrifice bunt by Shelby Bergeron to make the score 4-3. The Panthers extended their lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the inning making the score 5-3 BSC until the top of the seventh.

The Wildcats come back continued in the seventh when Kaitlyn Moore brought in Alyssa Ross on a base hit up the middle to cut the deficit to one with one out in the inning. Freshman speedster Briley Johnston came in as a pinch runner and swiped both second and third base then scored the tying run on a ground ball to second by Sami Walters.

After working their way all the way back to tie the game, the Wildcats could not get the game to extra innings as BSC loaded the bases after an error, an infield single, and a walk setting up the game winning single to left field.

Samantha Cetta was the only Wildcat with more than one hit for the day. Moore, Walters, and Eschette each had RBI singles in the second game of the doubleheader. Savannah Settle took the hard-luck loss in game one after pitching 6.0 innings allowing just two runs, on two hits with six strikeouts. Cameron Crochet suffered the loss in game two after pitching 5.0 innings in relief allowing two runs, one of them earned on five hits.

The Wildcats return to play this weekend as they open ASC play hosting the University of the Ozarks in their home opening weekend. First pitch of Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for 5 p.m. with the series finale scheduled for Saturday at 12 p.m. Stay connected to Louisiana College softball by following @LC_sftball on Twitter or liking Louisiana College Softball on Facebook. For general athletics news follow @LC_Wildcats on Twitter or like Louisiana College Wildcats on Facebook.

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