Box Score

In yet another close, hard fought game in the American Southwest Conference Tournament, the Louisiana College softball team were edged out 4-2 by Concordia (Texas) and eliminated from tournament play. Four runs in the middle innings gave the Tornado the lead, with late chances falling short for the Wildcats as they tried to find their way back. The Wildcats end the season with a 22-18 overall record in Head Coach Bobby Buchanan's first season as the LC skipper.
 
Carrying the momentum from the day's earlier walk-off victory over Sul Ross State University, the Wildcats picked up where they left off with a run in the top of the first. With the speedy Shelby Bergeron at third base, a squeeze bunt to third off the bat of Taylor Hammock gave Bergeron just enough time to get down the line and slide safely into home to put the Wildcats on top early, 1-0.
 
Wildcat starter Lucy Lewis cruised through the first couple of innings before running into a bit of trouble in the third. After a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to second, Lewis got a big out on a foul out to left field. But on the first pitch of the next at-bat, a 2-out single tied the game and started a stretch of four straight Concordia runs in the game. The big hit of the game came in the bottom of the fourth inning after the first two batters reached bases safely and then were advanced on another sacrifice bunt. A fly ball down the left field line landed just fair as it kicked up the white chalk outline on the field, allowing two runs to score and knocking Lewis from the game in the process.
 
After surrendering the lead, the Wildcats best chance to make some offensive noise came in the top of the fifth inning. A walk, base hit, and an error loaded the bases for LC with only one out in the inning, putting the go ahead run on first base. The chance to score though would come up empty as back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat and sent the Wildcats back to the dugout empty handed and still trailing 3-1. A solo home run in the bottom of the innings extended the CTX lead to 4-1 with only two more trips to the plate for the Wildcats.
 
The Wildcats engineered a 2-out rally in the inning after Sami Walters drew a full-count walk and stole second during Shelby Bergeron's at-bat that also ended in a walk, bringing the tying run to the plate in the way of Mattie Stine. The senior ripped a sharp single off the third baseman that ricocheted into foul territory and allowed Walters to score from second base. That would be the last scoring threat of the game for the Wildcats as the next four batters were retired in order to end the game.

"Even though we came up short I couldn't be more proud of this team," Head Coach Bobby Buchanan said. "We came together to make a family. We had new players, a new head coach, new philosophies and we bonded in spite of all that. We had our ups and downs just like any other team but the way we handled those instances I knew we would be a competitive team. We never quit on each other so I knew we wouldn't quit on the field. We had signature wins for the program, we broke some records, we increased in many categories, and we battled today; what's there not to be proud of? God has truly blessed me with an amazing team that I will always cherish along with this first season."
 
Samantha Cetta and Shelby Bergeron each had a pair of hits in the game, both going 2-for-3 at the plate. Mattie Stine and Taylor Hammock picked up the Wildcats two RBIs, one a piece for each player. Lucy Lewis took the loss for the Wildcats going 3.1 innings and allowing three runs on five hits with a strikeout. Savanna Settle threw the final 2.2 innings giving up one run on two hits with a strikeout.
 
The American Southwest Conference postseason softball awards will be announced at the conclusion of this year's tournament, with several Wildcats poised to receive high honors after the votes are tallied. Stay connected to Louisiana College softball during the offseason by following @LC_sftball on Twitter. For general athletics news follow @LC_Wildcats on Twitter or like Louisiana College Wildcats on Facebook.