A three-run first inning coupled with missed scoring opportunities played the role of Achilles’ heel for the ACU softball team Friday as it lost 5-1 to West Texas A&M in the Lone Star Conference quarterfinals in Denton, TX.
For the Wildcats, the game was identified by repeated missed chances, as the team did not score its only run until the sixth inning when senior catcher Erin Gilliland drew a bases loaded walk that scored junior Sara Vaughn.
By the conclusion of the game, the ACU offense remained stagnant, leaving eight runners on base, including three in the sixth and two in the first. In addition, five of ACU’s seven leadoff hitters reached base with nowhere to go afterward. The ACU lineup did not even go down in order until the seventh inning where West Texas A&M starter Marci Womack caused three ground ball outs to end the game.
“Saturday, West Texas A&M had our number in every facet of the game,” head coach Bobby Reeves said. “Their pitcher did a great job of keeping our lineup off-balance and guessing. She also did a great job of getting out of scoring opportunities.”
The Lady Buffs jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first off of ACU starter Peyton Mosley. The Wildcats recorded the first two outs of the inning on a pair of defensive gems by Mosley, but then a walk followed by two stolen bases led to Meghan Brown’s RBI double.
Two plays later, rightfielder Lyndi Smith lost a fly ball in the sun, leading to the second West Texas A&M run.
The lady Buffs extended their lead to 3-0 on another sun-induced fly ball that gave the ACU defense trouble. Outfielder Madison Buckley and Vaughn were both converging on a flyball, but ran into each other in shallow left field and the ball went uncaught. However, Vaughn retrieved the ball and threw out the West Texas A&M runner trying to score.
In the second, the Lady Buffs almost extended their lead to 5-0, but centerfielder Keanna Winkfield made a leaping catch at the wall, robbing a homerun.
“Our defense did a great job all over the field,” Reeves said. “Keanna’s catch was a highlight reel catch and Sara threw a strike to Erin, which stopped that run from scoring and was a big play for us.”
Mosley barley escaped the third, but with a runner at third and two outs, Lacey Seidi hit a line drive over the outreached arm of third baseman Courtney Flanary’s glove, giving them a 4-0 lead and Mosley an early exit after 2.2 innings pitched. Mosley ended the outing with one strikeout, four walks and three earned runs.
Junior Caitlyn Crain relieved her, coming in with two outs and striking out Mercedes Garcia to end the threat. Crain retired the first seven batters she faced, including five by strikeout.
“Yeah, I came in and things went smoothly,” Crain said. “All of my pitches were doing what I hoped they would do. Then I left a ball up that got caught in the wind and paid for it.”
The Wildcats (29-16, 15-11) earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and will play No. 3 seed Emporia State in a first round game Friday at 4:30 p.m. in Edmond, Okla.
