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Littlefield first baseman, Lyric Rios, catches a throw from Natalia Sanchez for out number two in the top of the sixth inning, of the Lady Cats’, 5-0, loss to Levelland on Monday at Lady Cat field. (Staff Photo by Derek Lopez)
The Littlefield Lady Cat’s varsity softball team fell to the Levelland Loboettes on Monday afternooon, 5-0.
With the loss, the Lady Cats fall to 1-1 overall on the season.
The Lady Cats and Loboettes were locked in a defensive battle early-on.
Saydi Mendez laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first by Natalia Sanchez to give the Loboettes a base runner, but Delaney Delgado lined out to Myli Hernandez in center field for out number one. However, a throw into the infield off the mark, allowed Mendez to take second on the play. The error would not hurt the Lady Cats, as Danica Rivera flew out to Alyssa Torres in left field and Sanchez got Angelica Gonzalez to strike out looking to retire the side.
In the bottom of the first, Bryndle Ray struck out swinging and Torres popped up to Tiffany File at third base, but Taryn Golden singled to right-center field, bringing Taylin Gomez on as the courtesy runner for the catcher. She was left on base, as Sanchez struck out swinging to end the inning.
Both team’s offenses remained quiet until the top of the fifth inning when Levelland came to the plate. Jazlyn Diaz hit a shot to shortstop that was stopped by Ray, but she was unable to make the play at first, giving Levelland a base runner. Alexis Gardea singled to left field, but Diaz was thrown out at second for out number one. Mendez singled to rightcenter field and Delgado followed it up with a two-RBI double to right field, putting the Loboettes in front, 2-0.
Rivera popped up to Hernandez in shallow center field for out number two, but Gonzalez ripped an RBI-double past Ray at shortstop, stretching their lead to, 3-0, before Madison Seat flew out to Maggie McNeese in right field to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the fifth inning, Hernandez struck out swinging and Brinley Acevedo popped up to the pitcher, Aubriana Rivas on the third-base line for out number two. Ray singled over third base and took second on a throwing error to put a runner in scoring position for the Lady Cats, but Torres flew out to Gardea in foul territory in right field to end the inning.
The Lady Cat’s defense got the Loboettes to go three-up-andthree down in the top of the sixth inning and in the bottom half of the sixth, Golden drew a lead-off walk to get things going for Littlefield. Sanchez struck out swinging for out number one, and Brianna Aleman flew out to left field and Gomez was doubled up at first to end the inning.
Gardea drew a lead-off walk for Levelland to begin the seventh inning and Mendez laid down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by Lyric Rios, who threw to first for the out, as Gardea advanced to second on the play with one out. Delgado singled past Aleman at third, putting runners on the corners for Levelland.
Rivera hit a sacrifice grounder to Aleman at third, who got the out at first, as a run scored; a bad throw home by Rios put Delgado on third with two outs and the lead stretched to, 4-0. Gonzalez hit an RBI-single to left field to drive in a run and make the score, 5-0, before Seat flew out to Hernandez in right-center field to retire the side.
The Lady Cats were unable to get anything going in the bottom of the seventh, as they were retired in order, as they fell to the Loboettes, 5-0.
Sanchez pitched a complete game for the Lady Cats giving up nine hits, three walks and five runs, while earning two strikeouts.
The Lady Cats were at the Tahoka Tournament this weekend and will be back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 27th when they host Tulia.