The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity softball team held off the Slaton Tigerettes at home on Tuesday, 13-9, to take their first district meeting of the season at Lady Cat Stadium.
With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 12-5 overall, 4-2 in district play.
Burkelynn Lamberson led things off for the Tigerettes with a single to right field in the top of the first inning, but Natalia Sanchez got Zuri Martinez to strike out looking for out number one. Kamryn Barrera singled on a hit to third and Kolbi McCord drew a walk to load the bases for Slaton.
Jessleigh Lamberson, though, would hit into a double play to Brinley Acevedo at second base to retire the side.
In the home-half of the first inning, the Lady Cats came out swinging, as Bryndle Ray singled to left field and Alyssa Torres followed it up with a double to right field, putting two runners in scoring position for Littlefield. Bri Aleman singled on a line drive to center field to drive in two runs and give the Lady Cats an early lead.
Sanchez hit into a fielder’s choice to McCord at third, who got the out at second for out number one. Cali Saldana hit a grounder to McCord at third, who got the out at first and Sanchez was called out for offensive interference on the play to end the inning.
In the top of the second inning, Isabella Guzman drew a lead-off walk and Anelise Luera reached on an error by Acevedo at second base, putting two runners on for the Tigerettes. Sanchez got Kaylynn Salazar to strike out looking for out number one, but Adri Gonzales singled to center field to bring it a run, trimming the lead to, 2-1, with runners on first and second with one out. Burkelynn Lamberson flew out to Saldana in center field for out number two, but Martinez doubled on a line drive to center field, scoring Luera and moving Gonzales to third, as the game was tied. 2-2.
Sancez got Barrera to line out to Saldana in center field to retire the side.
Maggie McNeese led off the bottom half of the second inning with a solo homerun to right field to put the Lady Cats back in front, 3-2. The Lady Cats would not be able to capitalize, as Myli Hernandez grounded out to Barrera at shortstop, Hannah Lopez struck out swinging and Acevedo grounded out to McCord at third base to end the inning.
McCord got the third inning going with a line drive to center field for a single, but Jessleigh Lamberson flew out to Hernandez in right field for out number one. Guzman singled to right field and Luera reached on an error by Acevedo at second base, as McCord scored to tie the game, 33. Salazar hit into a fielder’s choice to Ray at shortstop, who got the out at second for out number two, and Gonzales grounded out to Sanchez in the circle to retire the side.
In the bottom of the fourth, Ray lined out to Martinez in center field for out number one, but Torres picked her up with a solo homerun to right field to put the Lady Cats back on top, 4-3. Aleman grounded out to Guzman in the circle for out number two and Sanchez lined out to right field to end the inning.
In the top of the fourth inning, Burkelynn Lamberson drew a leadoff walk and Martinez reached on an error by Aleman at third, before Barrera cleared the bases with a three-run homerun to center field, putting the Tigerettes in front, 64. McCord gave Slaton a base runner with a single to center field, but Jessleigh Lamberson lined out to Acevedo at second base for out number one.
Guzman drew a walk, but Luera was called out for offensive interference and Salazar struck out looking to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Saldana and McNeese reached on errors and Hernandez laid down a bunt that was fielded by McCord, who got the out at first, as Saldana scored and McNeese advanced to second, trimming the lead to, 6-5. McNeese took third on a pitch, before Lopez walked to put runners on the corners for Littlefield.
Acevedo walked to load the bases and Ray hit an RBI-single to center field to tie the game, 6-6. Tailyn Gomez running for the catcher scored on a passed ball, as Acevedo advanced to third and Ray advanced to second, putting Littlefield back in front, 7-6, and Torres followed it up with a sacrifice grounder to Barrera at shortstop, who got the out at first, as Acevedo scored and Ray advanced to third with the score, 86.
Aleman cleared the bases with a two-run homerun to center field to push their lead to, 10-6, but Sanchez grounded out to McCord at third to end the inning.
Amaya McCanick took over Sanchez in the circle to start the fifth inning, as she got Gonzales to strike out looking for out number one. Burkelynn Lamberson drew a walk and Martinez followed it up with a fly ball to right field. Burkelynn Lamberson scored on an error by Hernandez, trimming the lead to, 10-7. Barrera drew a walk and McCord singled on an error by Acevedo at second, taking second on the play, as Martinez scored and Barrera advanced to third on the play, cutting the lead to, 10-8.
Jessleigh Lamberson flew out to Acevedo at second base for out number two, as Barrera scored and McCord advanced to third with the score cut to, 10-9. McCanick would get Guzman to line out to Hernandez in right field to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the inning, Saldana led off with a solo homerun to right field, pushing the lead back out to, 11- 9, but McNeese struck out looking and Hernandez grounded out to Gonzales at second base for two outs. Lopez drew a walk, but Acevedo lined out to Martinez in center field to end the inning.
The Lady Cat defense kept the Tigerettes quiet in the top of the sixth, and in the home-half of the inning, Ray drew a lead-off walk and she stole second on a pitch and third on a passed ball, which she was able to score on, making the score, 12-9. Torres also drew a walk and Aleman was hit by a pitch and McCanick walked to load the bases for Littlefield.
Saldana lined out to Salazar in left field for out number one and Torres was thrown out at the plate trying to score for out number two. Aleman advanced to third on a passed ball and McCanick took second on the play, before McNeese reached on an error by Burkelynn Lamberson at third base, scoring Aleman to make the score, 13-9. Hernandez would ground out to Gonzales at second base to end the inning.
McCanick would give up a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh, before the Lady Cat defense retired the next three batters to take the contest, 13-9.
Sanchez pitched four innings for the Lady Cats giving up eight hits, four walks and six runs, two of which were earned, while striking out three batters. McCanick pitched three innings, giving up two hits, three walks and three runs, none of which were earned, while striking out four batters.
The Lady Cats hosted Dimmitt on Tuesday to open the second half of district play. They will continue district play on Tuesday with a road game against Shallowater.
First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.