The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team dropped their first game of a double-header on Friday in tournament play to the Lubbock Christian Eagles, 8-3.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 1-1 in tournament play on the weekend.
Brenden Bowman kept the Eagles quiet in the top of the first inning, as he got the lead-off hitter, Andrew Rendleman to strike out looking for out number one. Brady Simmons flew out to Markus Rosales in right field, but Bax Townsend hit a slow chopper to Chip Green at third, and was able to beat the throw to first to give LCHS a base runner. However, he would be stranded on second, as Bowman got Taye Brooks to strike out swinging to retire the side.
Major McNeese drew a lead-off walk in the bottom half of the first for the Wildcats, but Ian Mendez struck out swinging for out number one. McNeese stole third and scored on an overthrow to third by the catcher to put the Wildcats in front, 1-0. Isaiah Rodriguez was hit by a pitch and Bowman singled through the left side, as Sam Hill came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher.
Chip Green drew a walk to load the bases, as Brooks was relieved on the mound by Rendleman for LCHS. He would get Javen Jimenez to chop out to the mound, as he went home for the force out and then they fired to first for the double play to end the inning.
Both teams went scoreless through the second inning, but in the top of the third inning, Riley Schroeder drew a lead-off walk for LCHS and took second on a pitch, before Rendleman popped up to Adam McDonald at first for out number one. Brady Simmons hit a shot over first that fell inside the first-base line in right field for an RBI-single to tie the game, 1-1.
Townsend laid a bunt down the third-base line, and a bad throw to first by Green put the runners on second and third for the Eagles. Brooks drew a walk to load the bases and Wilson Wideman hit a two-RBI single through the left side to put the Eagles in front, 3-1. The runners advanced on a wild pitch, before Bowman got Easton Petrie to strike out swinging for out number two. But, a few pitches later, a run scored on a wild pitch, as the runner moved up to third on the play, making the score, 4-1. Connor Cross drew a walk to put runners on the corners for LCHS and Wideman scored on a past ball to stretch the lead to, 5-1.
Kurt Royal drew a walk to load the bases again for LCHS, as Bowman was relieved by Rosales on the mound for the Wildcats.
Rosales got Schroeder to pop up to McDonald at first to retire the side.
The Wildcats were kept off the board in the bottom of the third and the Eagles added another run in the top of the fourth, as Wideman hit an RBI-single to center field, pushing their lead out to, 6-1.
The Wildcats went three-upand- three-down in the bottom of the fourth inning and in the top of the fifth, Cross singled to center field to lead things off. He took second on a pitch, before Royal reached base safely on a dropped third strike putting runners on the corners for LCHS. Schroeder hit a sacrifice grounder to Mendez at shortstop, who got the out at first as the runner advanced to second and Cross scored to make the score, 7-1.
Rendleman was thrown out at first on a dropped third strike by Bowman, as Royal advanced to third with two outs. Simmons reached base safely on a dropped third strike that was overthrown to first by Bowman, bringing in another run for the Eagles to extend their lead to, 8-1. Townsend singled to left field to put runners on the corners for LCHS, but Rosales got Brooks to strike out swinging to retire the side.
Both teams were kept off the board until the bottom of the sixth inning; Petrie relieved Brooks on the mound for the Eagles to begin the inning. Green drew a lead-off walk and Jimenez was hit by a pitch, before Rosales ripped a ground rule double to right field, trimming the lead to, 8-2.
Townsend relieved Petrie on the mound for the Eagles and he got Elijah Salazar to hit a sacrifice chopper to Royal at shotstop, who got the out at first, as Jimenez scored to cut the lead to, 8-3. Gabe Montalvo struck out swinging for out number two and McNeese chopped out to the pitcher to end the game.
Bowman started on the mound for the Wildcats, pitching 2.2 innings giving up five runs and five walks, while earning three strike outs. Rosales pitched 3.1 innings, giving up three runs and one walk, while earning five strike outs.