Late 10-run rally lifts Co-Lin over LSU-Eunice
Published 5:00 am Friday, May 12, 2006
WESSON — The Co-Lin Lady Wolves never quit as the LSU-EuniceLady Bengals discovered late Thursday afternoon.
LSU-Eunice led 7-1 in the top of the seventh inning when Co-Linexploded 10 runs for an 11-7 comeback win over the Lady Bengals inthe winner’s bracket of the Region 23 Fastpitch SoftballTournament.
Unbeaten Co-Lin (36-7) plays in the championship game today at 1p.m. against the winner of the 11 a.m. consolation game betweenLSU-Eunice and Northeast. Should Co-Lin lose the first game, asecond game would follow at 3.
In yesterday’s other games, Co-Lin edged East Central 6-5 andLSU-Eunice knocked off Northeast 5-2. In the loser’s bracket,Northeast came back to eliminate East Central 6-5.
“It was unbelievable,” said Co-Lin head fastpitch softball coachAllen Kent after the win. “They never quit. I can’t say how proudof them I am. It was a total team effort. The fans that left at thetop of the seventh, missed a great comeback.”
Co-Lin sophomore first baseman Amber Beeson expressed the samefeelings after the game.
“We just never gave up,” stated Beeson who supported an ice bagon her right shoulder. “I give God all the glory.”
Co-Lin 17, LSU-Eunice 7
LSU-Eunice (18-21) jumped on Co-Lin 1-0 in the first inning.Sloane Laiche lead off with a double. Brittney Jones doubled toscore Laiche.
The Bengals broke lose in the bottom of the third for five runsto push their lead to 6-0. Aimee Solieux and Beard ripped solo homeruns to spark the four-run scoring spree. Doubling was HeatherFontana. Tana Brigg Landry, Jody Powell and Jones singled.
In the top of the fourth, Co-Lin scored its first run to cut thedeficit to 5-1. Erin Douglass singled and scored on double byAllyson Wallace.
The Lady Bengals came back to score one run in the bottom of thefourth to push their lead to 7-1. Laiche led off with a double thenscored on a single by Jones.
In the top of the seventh, the Lady Wolves did the unbelievable.Subs Holly Pyles led off with single to center field. Annie Selmanand Jackie Stowe singled to load the bases. Pitcher Emily Hornedoubled to left center, driving in 2 runs and cutting the deficitto 7-3. Douglass followed with a single to cut the deficit to 7-4when pinch runner Jessica Hart scored for Horne.
Allyson Wallace drilled a sacrifice fly to the center fieldfence to drive in 2 more runs and trim the LSU-Eunice lead to 7-6.,Lauren Smith and Megan Bateman singled. Relief Bengal pitcherSavannah Ratcliff was called for an illegal pitch and base runners(Smith and Bateman) advance to second and third base. Pyles walkedto load the bases. Beeson, as a substitute batter, drilled a hardsingle to right center to drive in 2 runs and give the Lady Wolvestheir first lead, 8-7, in the game.
Coach Kent sent Beeson in motion with a 2-1 count on Selman whosmashed a grounder to the hole at shortstop, preventing a force outat second base. Stowe singled to center to drive in Pyles and pushCo-Lin’s lead to 9-7. Stowe stole second base on a passed ball.Horne singled to left scoring 2 more runs for the 11-7 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, LSU-Eunice’s Powell grounded out,Evans struck out and Fontana grounded out to end the game.
“Emily was not at her best today, but she battled and settleddown and gave us a chance for the comeback,” added Kent. Hornefinished with 10 hits allowed, 5 strikeouts and 1 walk.
Kady King, Selman, Beeson and Douglass added a single for theLady Wolves.
Co-Lin 6, East Central 5
Co-Lin overcame 6 fielding errors to take the win in theopener.
In the first game, Selman single on the first pitch then stolesecond and third base. Smith was hit by a pitch and stole second.Douglass single in both players for a 2-0 lead over EastCentral.
The Lady Warriors tied the game 2-2 in the second inning.
In the third, the Lady Wolves posted 3 runs for a 5-2 lead.Smith singled, Douglas walked and King reached base on an error,driving in a run. Kaylin Burke hit a 2-out double to right center,driving in 2 runs.
The Lady Warriors scored 3 runs in the bottom of the third totie the game at 5-all until the seventh inning.
In the seventh, Douglass was hit by a pitch and moved to secondon a sacrifice by Bateman. Horne singled. Pinch runner Jessica Hartslide hard into the East Central catcher, jarring the ball lose forthe go ahead run.
Bateman, at catcher, picked off East Central’s Erica Hardin atthird to start the bottom of the seventh. Horne fanned the nextbatter and a pop-up to third ended the game.
Douglas started for three innings and Horne took over in thefourth. Douglas in 3 1/3 innings, gave up 4 hits and 5 runs. Shefanned 1 batter and walked 1. Horne gave up 3 hits and no runs. Shestruck out 4 and hit 1 batter.
Singling were Candance Braxton, King and Stowe.