The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity softball team stumbled on Monday against Muleshoe, falling at home on Senior Night to the Lady Mules, 13-10.
With the loss, the Lady Cats fall to 7-3 in district play.
Amaya McCanick started in the circle for the Lady Cats, pitching 4.2 innings, giving up 10 hits, three walks and 10 runs, six earned, striking out three batters. Maggie McNeese pitched 2.1 innings, giving up three hits, one walk and four runs, two earned, striking out one batter.
In the top of the first inning, McCanick got Addilene Blanco to strike out looking for out number one, before Zoe Bustillos singled to left-center field. Bustillos took second on a passed ball, before Melanie Martens struck out swinging for out number two. Bustillos stole third on a passed ball, before Adalie Agundis cleared the bases with a two-run homerun to right-center field, making the score, 2-0.
McCanick would bounce back in the circle, as Dylynn Villanueva grounded out to the pitcher to retire the side.
In the home-half of the first, Bryndle Ray drew a lead-off walk for the Lady Cats, and Sophia Mata laid down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by Agundis, who threw to first for the out, as Ray advanced to second on the play. Isaihla Garza followed it up with a two-run homerun to left field to tie the game, 2-2.
McNeese singled to shortstop, beating the throw from Yazlynn Ramirez to give the Lady Cats a base runner. McCanick singled to left field and Brianna Aleman was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Littlefield, before Hannah Lopez blasted a two-RBI single off of the left-field fence to put them in front, 4-2, as London Taylor came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher.
Abby Rodriguez popped up to Martens at first base for out number two, but Tailyn Gomez singled up the middle to load the bases, and Ray kept it going with an RBI-single through the left side to extend their lead to, 5-2. Mata followed it up with an RBI-single up the middle to push the lead to, 6-2, but Garza grounded out to Aaliyah Dominguez at third base to end the inning.
In the top of the second, McCanick got Maddi Anzaldua to fly out to Peyton Galvan in right field for out number one and she got Adalee Sanchez to strike out swinging for out number two. Domginguez drew a walk to give the Lady Mules a base runner and Ramirez singled to center field, before Blanco had a short pop up fall in front of Ray at shortstop, who picked it up and fired to first for the out to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the inning, McNeese popped up to Ramirez behind third base for out number one, but McCanick singled up the middle and Aleman doubled under the glove of Ramirez at shortstop, putting two runners in scoring position for the Lady Cats. Lopez knocked an RBIsingle up the middle, as Taylor came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher.
Rodriguez struck out looking for out number two, but Gomez picked her up with a three-run homerun to right-center field to stretch their lead to, 10-2. Ray would pop up to Blanco at second base to end the inning.
Muleshoe would threaten in the top of the third inning, after Bustillos popped up to Aleman at third base for out number one, Martens singled through the left side, and Agundis singled off the right-field fence, putting runners on the corners for Muleshoe. Villanueva drew a walk to load the bases, and Anzaldua hit a sacrifice fly to Mata in center field that was deep enough for Martens to tag-up and score from third, trimming the lead to, 10-3.
Sanchez would line out to Garza at second base to retire the side.
The Lady Cat bats fell quiet in the bottom half of the third, as Mata grounded out to Ramirez at shortstop, Garza struck out swinging and McNeese chopped out to Dominguez at third base to end the inning.
Both teams went scoreless in the fourth inning, but in the top of the fifth, Bustillos hit a shot down the third-base line, but she was canned at third, as Gomez relayed the ball to Ray, who fired to Aleman, who applied the tag at third for the out. Martens drew a walk and Agundis hit a bleeder over Garza at second base to put two runners on for Muleshoe.
Villanueva singled on a drop by Gomez in left field to load the bases and Anzaldua followed it up with an RBI-single to right field, trimming the lead to, 10-4. Marianna Gonzales kept it going with an RBI-single up the middle to make the score, 10-5, and Dominguez cleared the bases with a grand slam to right field, slicing the lead to, 10-9.
McCanick got Ramirez to fly out to Mata in shallow center field for out number two, but she hit Blanco with a pitch, as McNeese relieved McCanick in the circle for Littlefield.
Bustillos doubled down the third-base line and Martens drew a walk to load the bases. Agundis hit a two-RBI single up the middle, taking second on the throw home from Mata, making the score, 11-10. Villanueva kept the rally going with a two-RBI triple to right field on an error by Galvan, stretching their lead to, 1310. McNeese would get Anzaldua to ground out to Ray at shortstop to retire the side.
The score would stand over the final three innings, as Littlefield fell to Muleshoe, 13-10.
The Lady Cats were at Roosevelt on Thursday for their second meeting with the Lady Eagles. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on April 18th with a home game against Slaton. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.