ALEXANDRIA, La. – The Louisiana Christian University softball team opened it season with a split, dropping its season opener 10-4 to the Central Baptist Mustangs before picking up a 12-4 run-rule win over the in walk-off fashion over the Nelson Lions Thursday afternoon at the Champions Sportsplex.
Game 1 – Central Baptist (Ark.) 10, Louisiana Christian 4
Louisiana Christian (1-1) found itself down early as Central Baptist (1-1) scored two in the top of the first inning. But the Wildcats got one back in the bottom half as
Maci Baldwin successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt. As
Mariel Medrano moved to second on the bunt, the Mustangs tried to throw behind her, but the throw went wild, allowing Medrano to come all the way around.
From there, however, CBC took control, adding three runs in the third, three more in the fifth, and two more in the seventh to go up 10-1.
LCU tried to rally in the last inning. With the bases loaded, Baldwin was hit by a pitch to force in
Kaitlyn Roberts and then
Lexi Broussard watched ball four fly by to push in
Madelyn Bourgoyne. Medrano would then score on
Christina Curtis's sacrifice fly to center, but that's where the rally would end.
Bourgoyne was the lone Wildcat with multiple hits in game one, going two-for three with a double and a run scored.
Medrano went one-for-three with a walk and scored twice.
Broussard and Curtis were both one-for-three with a RBI. Broussard also stole a base.
Olivia Falcon (0-1) got the start and threw three innings, giving up seven hits, five runs, all earned, struck out four and walked two.
Samantha Hill threw the final four innings, giving up six hits and five runs, all earned, and walked five.
Game 2 – Louisiana Christian 12, Nelson (Texas) 4
The Wildcats found themselves trailing when they came to bat for the first time again after Nelson (0-2) put a run across in the top of the first inning.
But this time, LCU's response was significant. A passed ball by the Lion catcher allowed Medrano to come home from third, a mistake which was compounded by a throwing error which also allowed Broussard to score to give the Wildcats the lead.
Bourgoyne followed that with a base hit through the left side which scored
Caydance Lobdell.
Naya Soto then dropped a hit into left field to make it 4-1 LCU after one complete.
The Wildcats added one in the second as Brossard's sacrifice fly to center allowed Baldwin to tag up and score for a 5-1 lead.
Nelson put up three in the third to cut the LCU lead down to one at 5-4, but from then it, it was all Wildcats. In the fourth, Baldwin's double scored both Soto and
Kylie Duplan and then Curtis's fly ball to center allowed Medrano to come home to make it 8-4 LCU.
In the fifth, Duplan came home on another error by the Lions. The game-ending shot came in the sixth as Soto came up with the bases loaded and cleared them off with a double over the right fielder's head, scoring Bourgoyne, Lobdell, and
Myah Talbert and enacting the run-rule to end the contest.
Soto led the offense, going three-for-four with a double, four RBI and a run scored.
Baldwin went two-for-four with a double and a triple, stole a base, knocked in two runs and scored once.
Medrano was also two-for-four with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
Lobell and Talbert both scored twice.
Addison Greak (1-0) picked up the win in the circle for LCU, going three innings and giving up six hits and four runs, all earned, with two walks and four strikeouts.
Katelyn Carpenter picked up the save, her first of the season, after throwing the final three innings and giving up just two hits and no runs with two strikeouts and a walk.
After an off day on Friday, the Wildcats wrap up their weekend hosting the LCU Invitational on Saturday, taking on Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. First pitch of Saturday's contest against the Eagles (0-0) is set for 2 p.m. at Wildcat Park.
