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The Lady Wildcats varsity softball team went 0-3 in a tough slate of early matchups last week, opening with a 12-10 loss to Taylor before dropping two onerun games to Mumford in a doubleheader.
VS. TAYLOR
Elgin’s comeback effort fell just short in a high-scoring contest against the Ducks Feb. 17.
The Lady Cats scored seven runs over the final two innings after trailing 9-3 into the sixth.
Senior Trinity Martinez and junior Jaelyn Barker each drove in three runs, combining to go 5-for-8 at the plate.
Junior utility player Katelyn Anderson got the start for the Wildcats and was sharp early, holding the Ducks scoreless through the first three innings. Elgin grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the second inning when Barker delivered a bases- clearing triple.
Taylor broke through in the bottom of the fourth with a six-run inning. Anderson finished her outing allowing six runs on five hits. Sophomore utility player Sarah Herring came on in relief.
Martinez answered in the fifth with a solo home run to trim the deficit to 6-3. The Ducks responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning on a bases- clearing triple and a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 9-3.
Elgin mounted a furious rally in the sixth, scoring five runs. A two-RBI single from freshman Elizabeth Anderson cut the deficit to 9-5. Herring followed with an RBI single, and Martinez added a two-RBI double to pull the Lady Cats within one run.
Taylor, however, responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to push the lead to 12-8.
Elgin added two more runs in the seventh on a solo home run by Bianca Galindo and an RBI single from Barker, but the team couldn’t find their final two points needed.
VS. MUMFORD
The Lady Cats were swept by Mumford in their doubleheader Feb. 20, with both games decided by a single run.
In the first test, Elgin once again attempted a late rally, scoring two runs in the final inning, but Mumford held on for the win. The second game unfolded in dramatic fashion. Mumford scored on a sacrifice bunt in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, but Elgin answered when Anderson scored on a passed ball to tie the game. Mumford regained the lead on an RBI single and later extended it to 3-1 with another RBI single in the fourth inning.
Elgin surged ahead in the sixth, scoring two runs on an error before taking a 4-3 lead on a bases-loaded walk. However, the Wildcats could not hold the advantage.
Mumford scored twice in the bottom of the final inning to secure a walkoff victory.
Herring took the loss, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing five runs on nine hits. Martinez accounted for Elgin’s lone RBI in the contest.
The Lady Cats fell to 2-7 on the season. Elgin faced Navarro after press time Tuesday and will compete in the Heart of Hays tournament this weekend.
