The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity softball team won an extra-inning thriller on the road over the Muleshoe Lady Mules, 3-2, in eight innings.
With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 4-1 in district play.
It was a pitcher’s duel through the first inning and a half, but in the bottom of the second Muleshoe broke through. Cadence Sanchez was able to record two quick outs for the Lady Cats, as she got Amri Melton to fly out to Mykenzie Price in center field and she got Madison Ortega to pop up to Bryndle Ray at shortstop for out number two.
Payton Critchley singled to left field and Adaline Agundis singled on a drop by Price in right-center field, putting runners on second and third for the Lady Mules with two outs. Zaira Bustillos came on as the courtesy runner for the pitcher. Alexa Estrada hit an RBIsingle over Natalia Sanchez at second base and took second on the throw home, as the Lady Mules took a, 1-0, lead. Cadence Sanchez would recover for Littlefield, as she got Addilene Blanco to fly out to Alex Hernandez in left field to end the inning.
The Lady Cats were kept quiet in the top of the third, and in the bottom half of the inning, Heaven McMullen led things off with a double over Price in center field. Elena Cisneros flew out to Price in center field for out number one, but Bianca Cereceres grounded out to Natalia Sanchez at second base, who got the out at first, as McMullen advanced to third on the play with two outs.
McMullen scored on a past ball to extend the Muleshoe lead to, 20, before Melton grounded out to Natalia Sanchez at second base to end the inning.
The Lady Cats would not go down with out a fight, as they started to find some offense in the top of the fourth inning. Taryn Golden drew a lead-off walk, but Alex Hernandez flew out to Ortega in left field for out number one. Myli Hernandez hit a grounder to the pitcher and singled on the fielder’s choice, as Golden advanced to third on the play putting runners on the corners with one out.
Myli Hernandez took second on a pitch and Lyric Rios hit a grounder to third, reaching base on the fielder’s choice, as Golden scored to cut the lead to, 2-1. Rios took second on a throw down to third, before Kaeleigh Logan struck out swinging for out number two. Price would ground out to Cereceres at third base to retire the side, as Littlefield stranded two runners on base.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Ortega laid down a bunt, but was thrown out at first by Logan for out number one. Critchley singled under the glove of Golden at third and Agundis singled to right field, but Myli Hernandez got the force out at second for out number two, as Bustillos came on as the courtesy runner for the pitcher.
Estrada singled to Golden at third base and Blanco singled up the middle to load the bases for Muleshoe, but Cadence Sanchez got McMullen to fly out to Alex Hernandez in left field to end the inning.
The score remained until the top of the seventh inning when Littlefield came to the plate, needing at least one run to keep the game going.
Rios struck out swinging for out number one and Alyssa Torres chopped out to Melton at second base for out number two. Price singled on an error by Cereceres at third base and Cadence Sanchez and Ray drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for Littlefield. Natalia Sanchez drew an RBI-walk to tie the game, 2-2, before Golden struck out swinging to retire the side.
In the bottom of the seventh, Blanco grounded out for out number one, but McMullen singled through the left side and Cisneros singled through the right side to give the Lady Mules some base runners. Cereceres popped up to Ray at shortstop for out number two, but Melton drew a walk to load the bases for the Lady Mules. Cadence Sanchez would again work out of trouble, as Ortega flew out to Myli Hernandez in rightcenter field to end the inning.
Alex Hernandez was hit by a pitch to begin the eight inning and Myli Hernandez had a pop up fall inside the right-field line in shallow right field. Rios singled to right field to load the bases, before Logan struck out swinging and Price popped up to Cereceres at third base for out number two.
Alex Hernandez scored on a past ball and the runners advanced to second and third, as Littlefield took their first lead of the game, 3-2, before Cadence Sanchez struck out swinging to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the eighth, Payton Otwell popped up to Natalia Sanchez behind first base for out number one, but Agundis singled up the middle and Estrada singled on a fielder’s choice to Natalia Sanchez at second base, who got the force out at second for out number two. Blanco drew a walk, but McMullen hit a shot to Golden at third that was gloved up and thrown to first for the out to end the game, as Littlefield rallied back for the, 3-2, victory.
Cadence Sanchez pitched a complete game, throwing eight innings for the Lady Cats giving up two runs and four walks, while earning three strikeouts.
The Lady Cats were at Brownfield for their second meeting with the Lady Cubs. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Tuesday with a home game against Denver City.
First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.