The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity softball team fell short in their season-opener on Saturday at home against Abernathy, 7-5.
With the loss, the Lady Cats fall to 0-1 to open the season.
Junior pitcher, Cadence Sanchez, kept the Lady Lopes scoreless in the top of the first inning, and in the bottom half of the side, MyKenzie Price got on base to lead things off and Sanchez hit a one-hopper to Torrez at second base, who got the out at first, as Price advanced to third on the play.
Julie Rodriguez hit a shot back at the pitcher, who went home with the ball to hold the runner at third, putting runners on the corners for Littlefield. Katelynn Gau struck out swinging for out number two and Abigail Ybarbo hit a grounder to Ponce at shortstop, who bobbled the ball allowing a run to score, but she was able to ring Rodriguez up at third for the final out of the inning, as Littlefield took a, 1-0, lead into the top of the second inning.
In the top of the second inning, Sanchez got Villareal to line out to Gau at first base for out number one and got Sandoval to strikeout swinging for out number two. Caro drew a walk to give Abernathy a base runner, but Ruiz hit a one-hopper to Taryn Golden at third, who got the out at first to retire the side.
Tricia Torres struck out to begin the bottom half of the second for Littlefield, but Kaeleigh Logan was hit by a pitch and took second on a past ball, before Golden drew a walk to put runners on first and second for the Lady Cats. Alex Hernandez laid down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by Villareal in the circle, who got the out at first as the runners moved up 90 feet to get into scoring position.
Price reached second on a dropped third strike that got by Shipley behind the plate, allowing Logan to score and Golden to advance to third on the play to push their lead to, 2-0, with one out. Sanchez kept the rally going with a two-RBI single up the middle. Sanchez advanced to third on the throw home that got by Shipley at the plate, as they stretched their lead to, 4-0. Rodriguez, though, would strike out swinging to end the inning.
Sanchez recorded a quick out to begin the third inning, as Torrez grounded out to Sanchez in the circle for out number one. Shipley hit a grounder up the middle that was stopped by Rodriguez, but she could not make the play at first, giving Abernathy a base runner. Rexrode hit an RBI-double over Hernandez in right field to get the Lady Lopes on the board, trimming the lead to, 4-1.
Moore struck out for out number two, but Ponce hit an RBI-double to left-center field to cut the lead to, 4-2. Villareal singled on an error by Ybarbo at shortstop, that allowed Ponce to take third, putting runners on the corners for Abernathy, and Sandoval followed it up with an RBI-single up the middle that moved Villareal to third, as the lead was cut to one run, 4-3.
Sanchez would bounce back, as she got Caro to ground out to Rodriguez at second base to retire the side.
Both teams went scoreless until the top of the sixth inning when Abernathy came back to the plate.
Villareal flew out to Hernandez in right field for out number one, but Sandoval singled up the middle and took second on a pitch, before Caro drove her in with an RBI-single up the middle to tie the game, 4-4. Ruiz popped up to Torres in shallow center field; the ball was dropped, but she was able to get the lead runner at second for out number two. Torrez drew a walk, but Shipley hit a shot back at Sanchez in the circle, who got the out at fist to retire the side.
Ybarbo drew a lead-off walk for Littlefield to open the bottom half of the inning and took second on the catcher and third on a pitch, before Torres hit a sacrifice fly ball to right field to score Ybarbo from third to put the Lady Cats back in front, 5-4, with one out. The offense would stall out, as Alex Tenorio was thrown out at first on a dropped third strike and Golden popped up to Ponce at shortstop for out number three.
Abernathy would go on to score three runs in the top of the seventh and was able to keep the Lady Cats scoreless in the bottom half of the side to steal the season-opener from Littlefield, 7-5.
The Lady Cats were in the Tahoka Tournament Thursday-Saturday. They return home on Tuesday to take on Lubbock Trinity.
First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.