Lady Gladiators take care of business in two warmup games preparing for playoffs
Italy’s Tara Wallis(5) connects on the ball and then hurries down the first base line. (Barry Byers)
Italy — After defeating 2A Malakoff 5-4 in their first warm-up game before making their playoff campaign, the Lady Gladiators matched up with the 3A Ferris Lady Yellow Jackets in a second warm-up game on Saturday. Sophomore pitcher Jaclynn Lewis began the day by striking out the first Ferris batter swinging, then struck out eleven others before ending the day by striking out the last batter for Ferris who swung and missed as well…that stings!
Center fielder Kelsey Nelson had a big day defensively with two fly ball catches that kept the dugout of the Lady Jackets fairly docile with Ferris unable to create any buzz.
Senior Alyssa Richards accounted for 7 of Italy’s 9 runs with 5 RBIs and scoring twice. A two run triple and 3 run double by Richards separated the swords from the stingers.
So how did Italy do it?
Neither side scored in the first-inning and the scoring drought continued for Ferris in the top of the second after the first batter flied to Bailey Eubank at second base followed by the second of Lewis’s 12 strikeouts for out number two. The third Ferris batter flied out into shallow center with Nelson stepping up to make the catch to send Italy back on offense.
Despite hits by Paige Westbrook and Tara Wallis, Italy also struggled to record a run with the game now in the bottom of the second-inning, still tied 0-0. Ferris managed to put two runners on base in the top of the third off an error and a walk, but with two more strikeouts by Lewis, catcher Alyssa Richards threw down to shortstop Madison Washington at second base who made the catch and the tag for the third out.
Fueled by the momentum created by the Richards to Washington combination, Italy’s hit squad went to work. Eubank singled followed by a hit by Washington to put runners at first and second. Lady Gladiator head coach Wayne Rowe called for a sacrifice bunt and Nelson executed the request by advancing the runners to second and third. The stage was now set for Richards who ripped the first pitch into the outfield for a two run triple. Eubank and Washington scored to give a Italy a 2-0 edge. Lewis grounded out to short but scored Richards for an RBI and a 3-0 lead for Italy. Ferris gets the third out via a strikeout to end the bottom of the third-inning.
Ferris hits to get on base to start the fourth. The next batter grounds out to Katie Byers at first base for the first out. Lewis catches a line drive back to the mound for the second out and then Ferris grounds out to Washington, still at shortstop, who throws to Byers waiting at first base for the third out, still 3-0 Italy.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Italy is unable to increase their lead and allows Ferris to grab their bats. To start the fifth, the first batter for Ferris flies out into the right field gap when center fielder Nelson tracked down the ball to make the catch. Lewis strikes out the next two batters to preserve Italy’s 3-0 advantage.
Eubank again gets things rolling for Italy in the bottom of the fifth-inning with a single. Washington follows with a single of her own to advance Eubank to second, two on base for Italy. Nelson is walked to load the bases. This time, Richards gets a hold of the second pitch and sends it into the grass for a 3 run double, Italy leads 6-0. Lewis is walked and both Lewis and Richards advance to second and third thanks to a pitch that gets passed the Ferris catcher.
Westbrook hits in Richards for an RBI but is thrown out at first base, 7-0 Italy leads. With two outs, Wallis hits a popup to centerfield that drops in scoring Lewis from third, 8-0. Italy’s next batter grounds out to end the fray but the damage is done, Ferris players are deflated emotionally.
With the game in the top of the sixth-inning, Lewis records two more strikeouts. Eubank fields a grounder and then throws to Byers at first for the third out, stranding two Ferris runners. In the bottom of the sixth, a single by Washington eventually pushes her across home plate thanks to throwing errors by the Ferris defense. Washington makes the final run total 9-0 in Italy’s favor.
In the top of the sixth, Ferris manages to load the bases despite having two batters struck out by Lewis. Any hopes of extending the game soon evaporate as another Lewis heater ends the game on a swing and a miss.
The Lady Gladiators will have a third warm-up game against Scurry on Thursday, April 25, in Italy starting at 5:30 p.m.