After averaging 8.3 runs per outing during an eight-game win streak, the Brownwood Lady Lions on Saturday mustered a combined 8 runs in two outings, both losses, to conclude the Battle on the Bayou tournament.
In each game the Lady Lions opened three-run advantages, but were unable to hold on in losses of 11-5 to Burnet and 4-3 to Hawley, as Brownwood slipped to 8-3 on the season.
“We struggled with overcoming adversity today,” said Lady Lions head coach Cherita Munguia. “Any time you’ve got two starters down you have to step up and make adjustments and I don’t feel like we did that consistently today.
“In the first game our bats were still hot, but after that tough loss this morning we got complacent in the batter’s box. And any time you’re in a time limit ball game you have to work quickly and get ahead early and we just sat around in the second game.”
Burnet 11, Lady Lions 5
Burnet struck for five runs with two outs in the top of the third, triggering consecutive five-run frames as a three-run lead and eight-game win streak for the Lady Lions vanished.
Trailing 4-1 in the third, Burnet (5-4-1) produced an RBI double from Abby Bennight, a two-RBI single from Layton Powell, an RBI double from Kendall Winkley and an RBI double from Braelyn Smith in succession to grab a 6-4 advantage.
The Lady Lions answered with a solo home run from Kaydence Allen in the bottom of the third to close the gap to 6-5, but Burnet scored five more times in the fourth inning.
An RBI single from Lacie Lewis, an RBI double from Bennight, and an RBI ground out from Winkley resulted in three runs, while a Brownwood throwing error generated the other two.
The Lady Lions trailed 1-0 going to the bottom of the first inning where they manufactured a trio of two-out runs of their own to gain the advantage.
Brenda Allen doubled home Carlee Burks, who reached on a fielder’s choice, to even the score at 1, then Kaydence Allen’s RBI single over first base plated Brenda Allen for a 2-1 advantage. Amarrea Thomas followed with an RBI single up the middle that scored Eboni Baker, running for Kaydence Allen.
Brownwood stretched its lead to 4-1 in the second as Audrey Keas reached on a lead-off error and Hanah Campos drew a one-out walk. Adyn Lucas then ripped a double to left-center field that plated Keas, but Campos was thrown out at the plate.
The Lady Lions finished with eight hits – a pair from Kaydence Allen and one each from Campos, Lucas, Burks, Thomas, Kendra Allen and Brenda Allen.
In the circle, Kaydence Allen yielded 11 runs on 12 hits with seven strikeouts and two walks, while the Brownwood defense committed a pair of errors.
Hawley 4, Lady Lions 3
The Lady Lions scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, only to witness Hawley (8-3) generate four in the top of the second, as Brownwood was unable to produce on offense the rest of the contest.
Brownwood’s bottom of the first saw Campos lead off with a single to left field and Lucas then reached on an error. Keas followed with a base hit to right field to fill the sacks, as Burks then delivered a two-RBI single to center field and Brenda Allen contributed an RBI ground out. The inning ended with Burks being tagged out at the plate attempting to steal home during Maitlyn Esquivel’s at-bat.
In the top of the second, two-out runs again plagued Brownwood as Melody Peyton, who was hit by a Brenda Allen pitch with one out, scored on Lily Bailey’s two-out RBI single up the middle. Casey Cole then tripled home Bailey, and an errant throw into the dugout permitted Cole to cross the plate with the tying run. Jaylee Lowe then roped a line drive solo home run over the left field wall, which proved to be the difference in the contest.
The bottom of the second saw Kendra Allen and Campos both reach on two-out singles for Brownwood, but the next seven Lady Lions were retired in order by the Hawley pitcher Bailey, who recorded seven strikeouts in the game.
The Lady Lions managed just five hits – two by Campos and one each by Keas, Burks, and Kendra Allen.
Brenda Allen tossed the first two innings and gave up four runs on four hits with one strikeout, one walk and one hit batter. Kaydence Allen tossed the final three innings and struck out six with no base runners allowed.
The Lady Lions return to the diamond at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday as they travel to San Angelo Central.
Despite Saturday’s results, Munguia is happy with the play over the Lady Lions thus far through 11 contests.
“I do feel very confident in our bats consistently through the lineup and I also feel confident in our ability to continue to grow,” Munguia said. “We have a lot of ball games left before we end up in district, so I’m very happy with where we’re at right now.”
