By Moses Leos III and Josh Young
Twenty-seven stranded base runners over two games sunk the Lady Lobos’ hopes of keeping their historic season alive.
Lehman’s inability to deliver in seven bases loaded situations led to a sweep by the Dripping Springs Lady Tigers. Lehman’s season ends in the area round of the playoffs.
“I don’t have words for it,” head coach Bill Holmes said. “We couldn’t come through with a clutch hit.”
Lehman’s woes started in a 7-3 loss Thursday at the Lobo Softball Field.
Dripping Springs grabbed the momentum early, scoring two runs to put the Lady Lobos in a hole.
Lehman responded by loading the bases in the bottom half of the inning, but couldn’t get a run across. It became a recurring storyline, as the Lady Lobos couldn’t score with the bases loaded in the fourth and fifth innings.
The Lady Tigers tallied a run in the fourth. They followed with three runs in the fifth inning after two RBI hits and an overthrow. Dripping Springs led 7-0 in the sixth inning when the top of Lehman’s lineup roared to life. Senior Sam Villegas delivered a two-run single, scoring sophomore Clarrisa Rayos and senior Alexis Trotter.
Lehman added a run in the seventh, but it wasn’t enough, forcing Lehman to win back-to-back games.
The series shifted to Dripping Springs on Saturday, where Villegas and Dripping Springs sophomore pitcher Amber Womack squared off in a tight pitcher’s duel.
It was Womack who delivered a walk-off RBI single in the seventh inning to defeating Lehman 2-1.
Both pitchers cruised early, allowing one hit over the first three innings.
Lehman took the lead in the fourth. Trotter led off by reaching second on an error; she was moved to third after Womack hit back-to-back pitchers with one out.
A bases loaded walk drawn by sophomore Kynslee Noriega scored Trotter to put Lehman up 1-0.
However, the inability to find the clutch hit took its toll.
Lehman couldn’t decipher Womack, who struck out ten in game two. Womack finished with 20 strikeouts over 14 innings of work.
“Everyone was anxious to get a hit,” Villegas said. “[Womack] did have good movement. It was a little difficult to hit.”
Lehman loaded the bases in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings, but couldn’t deliver a run.
While the offense struggled, Villegas held her own in the circle.
It was spurred by a plan devised by Villegas and catcher Kynslee Noriega after game one. Holmes said the two attacked the corners and top of the strike zone.
Their plan worked, as Villegas allowed one hit through three innings. She finished with 6 strikeoutsin game two. The Lady Tigers challenged Villegas in the fourth and sixth innings with runners in scoring position.
Both times, Villegas met the challenge.
She said mixing her pitches staved off the Lady Tiger batters. Holmes felt her plan worked to perfection.
“We kept [Dripping Springs] off balance,” he said. “There were a lot of weak grounders and pop ups.”
Behind Villegas was a defense which made critical plays in key situations.
“Our defense played spectacularly, I think,” Trotter said. “I wouldn’t have wanted to go out any other way.”
With a 1-0 lead, Lehman tried to hold off Dripping Springs in the seventh. But the Lady Tigers proved too much.
Sydney Campbell led off with a double, and was moved to third via a sacrifice bunt. A walk from Villegas put runners at the corners for Hayley Odell, who delivered an RBI single, scoring Campbell to tie the game.
Two batters later, with two outs, Womack came up and delivered a walk-off RBI single to right, ending Lehman’s season.
Despite the loss, Holmes lauded his team on doing something no other Lady Lobo softball team had ever done — make the playoffs.
“No one expected us to make it,” Holmes said. “They like proving people wrong. We are a good softball team. They don’t give up until the last pitch.”
