8-5A softball: Lady Jackets fall at Midlo; Burleson, Centennial each notch big wins
Mar. 13—MIDLOTHIAN — The Cleburne Lady Jackets couldn't slow down Midlothian's bats as the Lady Panthers coasted to a 13-3 win in five innings Friday.
It was Cleburne's second straight loss after a 2-0 start in District 8-5A play that now has the Lady Jackets at 2-2 in league action. Midlothian improved to 4-1 in league play.
Midlothian's Farryn Aday proved to be a tough out for Cleburne as she went 4-for-4 with six RBIs and three runs, including a grand slam home run in the bottom of the third inning to break the game open at 10-2.
It was a strong start for the Lady Jackets, who plated two runs in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Matti Fitzpatrick to score Kamree Kirkpatrick and an RBI single by Cadence Collier to score Fitzpatrick for a 2-0 lead.
However, Midlothian responded with a three-run inning in the home half of the first frame for a 3-2 lead. The first three Lady Panther batters recorded base hits: an inside-the-park home run and back-to-back singles to tie it before a one-out double gave Midlothian a 3-2 advantage.
After a scoreless top of the second for Cleburne, the Lady Panthers started to pull away with three runs in the bottom of the second for a 6-2 lead before Aday's grand slam in the third inning made it 10-2.
Midlothian plated three more runs in the fourth inning for a 13-2 advantage. The Lady Jackets tried avoiding the run-rule loss but only managed one run on a single and error as the game ended at 13-3 in the fifth.
Midlothian recorded 13 base hits with four players who had multi-hit days. In addition to Aday's monster performance, Carsen Kitchens was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, Meagan Hall was 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs, and April Snowden went 2-for-3 with two runs.
Fitzpatrick led Cleburne with a 1-for-3 day with one RBI and one run.
The Lady Jackets will try to bounce back at 2 p.m. Tuesday when they host the Burleson Lady Elks. Cleburne will then visit Burleson Centennial at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Burleson 15, Arlington Seguin 0
The Burleson Lady Elks blasted Arlington Seguin, 15-0, in three innings Friday.
Burleson scored four runs in the first inning then erupted with a nine-run second before adding two more in the third for the run-rule win.
Emily Jacobs went 2-for-2 with two homers and three runs, Olivia Marks was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs, Ryan Hovland was 2-for-2 with four RBIs, Madalyn Shaw went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and Calli Gourley was 1-for-1 with two RBIs, two runs and a homer.
Hovland allowed only two walks with no hits and no runs with seven strikeouts in a complete-game no-hitter.
The Lady Elks improved to 4-1 in District 8-5A play and Burleson will visit Cleburne at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Burleson Centennial 22, Mansfield Timberview 0
Friday's contest between Burleson Centennial and Mansfield Timberview was over as it started as the Lady Spartans scored 20 runs in the bottom of the first inning en route to a 22-0 win in three innings.
Centennial recorded 18 base hits in the first inning alone, including 11 extra-base hits and three home runs as the Lady Spartans improved to 4-0 in District 8-5A play.
Baylie Ford went 3-for-3 with six RBIs, two homers and three runs to lead Centennial. Kendall Miller was 2-for-2 with two RBIs, two runs and a homer, while Haylie De La Rosa, Hanna McCurry, Kylie Barnes and Jalynn Vasquez each recorded two RBIs. Sixteen different players recorded at least one base hit for the Lady Spartans.
Lexie Arthur pitched all three innings for Centennial, allowing one hit and two walks with eight strikeouts in the complete-game shutout.
The Lady Spartans will visit Arlington Seguin at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
