BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Louisiana College softball team found itself in a pair of pitching duals in its doubleheader with Howard Payne, coming up short in a 3-2 walk-off defeat in game one before rallying for a 2-1 win in the nightcap with the Yellow Jackets Friday afternoon at Lady Jacket Field.
Game 1 – Louisiana College 2, Howard Payne 3
The Wildcats fell behind in the bottom of the first inning and for the next three innings battled to find the tying run. That run finally came in the top of the fourth inning as
Desiree Squires led off the frame with a double down the right field line. After
Shaye Tredinich moved her to third off of a single with one out,
Kayla Dauthier tied the score with a ground ball to second that allowed Squires to come home to make it 1-1.
Howard Payne reclaimed the lead with a solo home run in the fifth, but the Wildcats tied the game back up almost immediately in the top of the sixth.
Olivia Coaker led off the frame with a double to right, moved to third on another base hit by Squires, and then came home off of a sacrifice fly to center by Tredinich that evened the score at 2-2.
But it was not to be for the Wildcats as the Yellow Jackets scored on a RBI single to left in the bottom of the seventh to end the game in walk-off fashion.
Olivia Coaker and
Desiree Squires each went two-for-three with two doubles apiece and a run scored by each in the contest.
Shaye Tredinich went one-for-two with a RBI.
Kayla Dauthier picked up the team's lone othe RBI.
Olivia Coaker (3-1) picked up the hard luck loss, throwing a complete game 6.2 innings, allowing eight hits and three runs, all earned, struck out three and walked two in the contest.
Game 2 – Louisiana College 2, Howard Payne 1
Much like in game one, LC found itself down early as the Yellow Jackets took a 1-0 lead after one inning and the Wildcats were quickly on the hunt for a tying run. That run came a bit quicker this time as LC got that run across in the third inning.
Briley Johnston led off the inning with a walk, and then she stole second, moved to third on a passed ball, and then
Desiree Squires brought her home with a base hit to center to make the score 1-1.
However, unlike game one, this time the defense and pitching held the Yellow Jackets in check for the rest of the contest as LC finally broke through for the lead in the sixth inning.
Desiree Squires got a base hit to open the top of the frame, was sacrificed over to second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and then
Kayla Dauthier gave the Wildcats the lead with a double to the right-center gap that scored Squires to give LC the 2-1 lead.
Howard Payne got the tying run on base in the sixth but was left stranded on first. LC worked a clean seventh to secure the win.
Desiree Squires and
Kayla Dauthier each went two-for-three with a RBI in the contest. Squires also had a run scored and a walk while one of Dauthier's hits was a double.
Briley Johnston had a walk, a run scored, and another stolen base as she closes in on the all-time LC stolen base record.
Bailey McMillian (4-5) also threw a complete game as she went a full seven innings to collect the win, allowing three hits and one run, which was earned, struck out four and walked three in the contest.
The Wildcats (9-11, 4-4 ASC) look for their second straight series win on Saturday when they face Howard Payne in the rubber game of the series. First pitch of the series finale against the Yellow Jackets (11-7, 5-3 ASC) is set for 11:00 A.M. at Lady Jacket Field.
