By Kyle Lehnik
Errors were the downfall of the Lehman Lady Lobos Friday as they struggled against the Lake Travis Cavaliers in a 10-4 loss at Lehman softball field.
Friday’s game was played in 40-degree weather, but weather wasn’t Lehman’s only problem. Lake Travis ace Jordan Goulard tossed nine strikeouts while facing a total of 27 batters en route to the win.
Goulard is currently ranked second in ERA for District 14-6A, allowing just 3.82 runs per outing. Her teammate Zoe Bacon is first with a 2.79 ERA.
Lake Travis led 1-0 after an inning of play. Goulard hit a homerun in the second inning to extend Lake Travis’ lead to 3-0.
Lehman responded in the bottom half of the second. Lehman’s Clair Reavis batted Kyns Noriega in for a run after Noriega swatted the ball to deep center field for a triple.
Lady Lobos pitching and fielding held Lake Travis to a run in the third inning, but the Cavaliers responded by exploding for five runs in the fourth inning. It boosted the Lady Cavaliers lead to 9-1.
Lehman relief pitcher Karina Reta slowed the Lake Travis offense, allowing just one run in the sixth inning and tossing two strikeouts. Reta pitched 3.2 innings in relief of starter Kaylee Wipff, who went 3.1 innings.
It allowed Lehman to make a late rally in the bottom of the sixth as they trailed 10-1. The Lady Lobos’ rally began with a solo inside-the-park homerun by center fielder Clarissa Reyos.
Senior Angel Cruz hit a double and was driven in by another double from Noriega.
Noriega was scored by a Reavis single.
The Lady Lobos looked for another rally in the seventh with the bottom third of the lineup due to bat.
However Goulard turned in a strong inning to end the contest.
A lack of defensive fundamentals spelled doom for Lehman. The Lady Lobos committed six errors, two of which came in the five run fourth inning for Lake Travis.
Nothing could dampen the spirits in the Lady Lobo dugout, who throughout the game, beat rhythmically on their aluminum bench and shouted positive support for teammates regardless of how many Lake Travis runs were on the board.
