The Lady Cats’ softball team came from behind with two runs in the fifth and four big runs in the sixth to defeat Little Elm, 7-5 at McKinney North Thursday night. The Lady Cats lead the best two out of three series, 1 game to 0.
The Lady Cats had to dig out of a 5-1 hole. Little Elm wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with two runs in the top of the first inning. Both runs were unearned as the Lady Lobos used an error, a single, a wild pitch a sacrifice and another error to score their runs. The Lady Cats trimmed the deficit to 2-1 by scoring a run in the bottom of the third. Alyssa Abron singled and stole second. She went to third on a Kelsey Wallace single. Abron then scored when the Lady Lobos could only get one out on an attempted double play. Brinklee Driver picked up the RBI on a fielder’s choice. Little Elm built their lead to 4-1 with two more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Little Elm started with two singles and then used a sacrifice and two Lady Cat errors. The Lady Lobos went up 5-1 literally stealing a run in the top of the fifth inning. They had a double and a single and then executed a double steal to score a run. The Lady Cats scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs, Wallace singled and went to second on a wild pitch. Driver drove in Wallace with a single. Abbi Baier ran for Driver and scored on a Sadie Stroud double. The Lady Cats were within two runs at 5-3 after five innings.
A big Lady Cats four run bottom of the sixth turned a two run deficit into a two run lead. With one out, Nylah Lindley had a bunt single. Macee Hollins and Landri Bell singled to load the bases. Alyssa Abron got on on an error and Lindley scored. Wallace walked forcing in a second run tying the score at 5-5. Driver than blasted a double that scored two runs and gave the Lady Cats a 7-5 lead. In the top of the seventh, Lady Cats’ pitcher Bailey Haggerty retired the first two Lady Lobos before given up two hits. With the leading run at the plate, Haggerty got a fly ball to center field to end the game.
The Lady Cats outhit the Lady Lobos, eleven to seven. Driver was 3 for 4 with four RBIs and a double. Stroud was 1 for 3 with an RBI and a double. Wallace was 2 for 2 with a run and an RBI. Abron was 1 for 4 and she scored two runs. She also appeared to be clearly safe on a play at first where she was ruled out. Kate Womack was 1 for 4 and had a double that just missed going out of the big park. Lindley was 1 for 1 with a run. Macee Hollins was 1 for 3 with a run. Bell was 1 for 3.
Haggerty earned the pitching win going all seven innings while allowing seven hits and five runs with only two of them earned. Haggerty also struck out five and walked two.
The Lady Cats improved their season record to 27-5. Game two of the series will be on Friday at 7 p.m. again at McKinney North.
