The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity softball team run-ruled the Idalou Lady Cats on the road Tuesday afternoon, 20-1.
With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 10-4 overall, 2-1 in district play.
In the top of the first inning, Bryndle Ray grounded out to Addison Mathews at shortstop for the first out of the inning, but Alyssa Torres drew a walk and Bri Aleman singled over third base to bring in a run, putting Littlefield in front, 1-0. Natalia Sanchez hit a shot off of Felicity Urrutia in the circle, who got the out at first, as Aleman advanced to second on the play. Maggie McNeese struck out swinging to retire the side.
The Lady Cats defense was able to keep Idalou quiet in the bottom half of the inning, as Mathews slapped a ball to Aleman at third, who got the out at first for out number one. Magan Hall singled up the middle, but Urrutia hit chopped out to Sanchez in the circle and Alicia Negrete popped up to McNeese at first base to end the inning.
Littlefield was kept off the board in the top of the second inning and in the home-half of the second, Karley Winegeart singled to left field and took second on a passed ball, before Mylee Estrada laid down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by Aleman, who got the out at first as Winegeart advanced to third on the play with out one.
Aaliyah Garcia singled on a throwing error to first by Ray at shortstop, as the run came into score from third, tying the game, 1-1. Paytyn Stapp drew a walk for Idalou, but Chloie Spann struck out swinging for out number two and Mathews hit into a fielder’s choice to Aleman at third, who stepped on the bag for the force out to end the inning.
The score remained deadlocked until the top of the fourth inning. Myli Hernandez struck out looking for out number one, but Cali Saldana singled through the left side and Hannah Lopez singled to left-center field to give Littlefield a pair of base runners. Brinley Acevedo hit into a fielder’s choice to Mathews at shortstop, who got the out at second for out number two. Acevedo took second on a ball in the dirt and Ray singled on a dropped ball by the second basemen in shallow right field, bringing in two runs to make the score, 3-1.
Ray took second on a passed ball and Torres knocked an RBIsingle through the left side to extend their lead to, 4-1. Torres would be tagged out trying to steal second to retire the side.
The Littlefield defense made quick work of Idalou in the bottom half of the inning and in the top of the fifth, Aleman singled on a throwing error to first by the Garcia at third base to give Littlefield a base runner. Sanchez drew a walk, as Rodriguez came on as the courtesy runner for the pitcher. McNeese singled to shallow center field to load the bases and on the next play, Aleman and Rodriguez scored on a bad throw down to third by the catcher, making the score, 6-1, as McNeese ended up on third.
Hernandez drew a walk, but was thrown out trying to steal second, as McNeese scored to make the score, 7-1, with one out. Saldana doubled to left-center field and Lopez singled on an infield hit to Mathews at shortstop. Acevedo singled on an error by Mathews at shortstop, as Saldana scored to make the score, 8-1.
Ray singled on an error by Negrete at first base, scoring two runs to push their lead to, 10-1. Torres ripped an RBI-double down the third-base line and Aleman followed it up with an RBI-single down the third-base line, stretching the lead to, 12-1. Sanchez singled on a fielder’s choice to third, as the throw to second was dropped.
The runners advanced to second and third on a passed ball and McNeese knocked a two-RBI double to right field that was dropped by Estrada, extending the lead to, 14-1. McNeese took third on a ball in the dirt, before Hernandez was hit by a pitch and Saldana walked to load the bases for Littlefield. Lopez was hit by a pitch to bring in a run and Acevedo singled off of Urrutia in the circle, as Hernandez scored. Lopez was called for runner interference on the play, forcing Saldana back to third with two outs and the score, 16-1.
Ray was hit by a pitch to reload the bases and Torres was hit by a pitch to bring in a run and make the score, 17-1. Aleman singled on a line drive to left field that was dropped by Spann, bringing in two runs to push their lead to, 19-1. Sanchez drew a walk to load the bases and Torres scored on a bad throw to third by the catcher, pushing the lead to, 20-1. McNeese drew a walk, but Aleman stepped off early at third to retire the side.
In the bottom of the fifth, Sanchez got Stapp to strike out for out number one, before giving up a single to Spann. Mathews chopped out to Sanchez in the circle, but Hall singled to left field, putting runners on the corners with two outs for Idalou. Urrutia would ground out to Aleman at third to end the game.
Sanchez pitched a complete game for the Lady Cats going five innings, giving up four hits, one walk and one run, while striking out four batters.
The Lady Cats hosted Muleshoe on Saturday. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Tuesday with a road game against Roosevelt.
First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.