Lady Eagles split first two games vs. Frankston

• Saylor Smith (6) takes a lead off from second base during Game 2 of the Lady Eagles' Area playoff series against Frankston Thursday. Smith batted 3/4, recorded an RBI, and hit a home run in the Lady Eagles' 10-5 loss in that game. Photo by DJ Spencer

C-P wins first game, loses second

GRAND SALINE — The No. 3 Como-Pickton Lady Eagles continued their season this week by taking on the Frankston Maidens in the Area round of the playoffs at Grand Saline. They would earn a win in the first game, but would lose the second, sending the series to a decisive Game Three.

GAME ONE

COMO-PICKTON 7

FRANKSTON 4

The Lady Eagles stepped up the plate first. The game began with Bella Romero grounding out. After Gracie Thompson hit a double, Lexie Rainey brought Thompson home with an RBI double, giving the Lady Eagles a 1-0 lead.

Unfortunately, their turn ended after Addi Monk hit a fly ball for an out, and Saylor Smith struck out.

The Maidens came to the plate next, facing Rainey in the circle. Their turn began with a walk. From there, a pick off, a pop out, and a strikeout brought the first inning to a close.

The second inning started with Sarah Corley hitting a fly ball for an out, and Paisley Watkins grounding out. Though a runner was gained when Journey Brumley hit a single, the Lady Eagles’ turn ended when Sanay Diaz grounded out.

The bottom of the second inning began with a double. This was followed by a line out.

After the next batter was intentionally walked, a strikeout occurred. On the next at-bat, the Maidens hit a 2-RBI double, pulling ahead 2-1. Following another walk, a strikeout ended the second inning, with the Maidens in the lead.

The third inning began with Romero hitting a single. Consecutive outs followed when Thompson hit a fly ball for an out, and Rainey grounded out.

Monk would hit an RBI double on the next at-bat, bringing Romero home and tying the score at 2-2. Later on, Monk scored on an error, putting the Lady Eagles ahead 3-2. Their turn came to an end when Smith lined out.

The bottom of the third inning started with a single. From there, back-to-back pop outs and a line out brought the third inning to an end, with Como-Pickton leading.

The Lady Eagles went down in order to start the fourth inning, as Corley grounded out, Watkins lined out, and Brumley grounded out. The Maidens were likewise retired in order during the bottom of the fourth inning after two strikeouts and a pop out, ending the inning.

The fifth inning began with Diaz hitting a single. Three straight outs followed after Romero struck out, Thompson grounded out, and Rainey hit a pop fly ball for an out.

The bottom of the fifth inning began with a fly out. Following a single, a pair of ground outs ended the inning, with the Lady Eagles nursing a 3-2 lead.

The sixth inning began with Monk launching a solo home run, extending the Lady Eagles’ lead to 4-2. This was followed by Smith hitting a single.

After Corley grounded out, Watkins reached base on an error, and Smith scored, extending the Lady Eagles’ lead to 5-2. This would be followed by Brumley reaching base on an error.

Watkins would then score on a passed ball, bringing the score to 6-2. Diaz would then reach base on an error, and Brumley scored, raising the score to 7-2. Their turn would come to an end after Romero grounded out and Thompson hit a pop fly ball for an out.

The bottom of the sixth inning stayed with a single. Following a pop out, another runner was gained on a walk.

After a strikeout, a walk loaded the bases up. The next batter was intentionally walked, bringing home a run for the Maidens and trimming the score to 7-3. A pop out followed, ending the sixth inning.

The seventh inning began with back-to-back singles by Rainey and Monk. From there, three straight outs followed when Smith grounded into a fielder’s choice, where Aubrey Martinez, pinch runner for Rainey, was tagged out at second base, Corley lined out, and Watkins struck out.

The bottom of the seventh inning kicked off with a ground out. This was followed by a double.

After a pop out, a runner reached base on an error. An RBI single then led to another run, cutting the score to 7-4. A ground out followed, closing out the game and allowing the Lady Eagles to win 7-4.

As a team, the Lady Eagles batted 10 for 34 (.294) from the plate. Monk led the way with three hits. Rainey added two hits, while Brumley, Diaz, Romero, Smith, and Thompson tallied one hit a piece.

Monk also finished as the leading scorer with two runs. Brumley, Romero, Smith, Thompson, and Watkins scored one run each.

Rainey earned the win in the circle. Across 6 2/3 innings, she struck out six batters, surrendering only seven hits, six walks, and four runs (three runs). Monk pitched the final 1/3 of an inning, inducing a ground out to end the game.

GAME TWO

FRANKSTON 10

COMO-PICKTON 5

For the second game, the Maidens came to the plate first, facing Rainey in the circle. The game began with a double. Soon after, an error led to a run, giving the Maidens a 1-0 lead.

An RBI triple on the next at-bat brought home another run, extending the Maidens’ lead to 2-0. This was followed by an error, which led to another run, bringing the score to 3-0.

From there, a sacrifice bunt, a line out, and a ground out ended the Maidens’ turn.

The Lady Eagles stepped up to the plate next. They would go down in order after Romero grounded out, Thompson hit a fly ball for an out, and Rainey hit a pop fly ball for an out.

The second inning began with a pair of singles. After that, a fly out, a fielder’s choice out, and a strikeout ended Frankston’s turn.

The bottom of the second inning started with Monk and Smith both hitting singles. Corley then grounded into a fielder’s choice, where Monk was tagged out at third base.

Watkins then hit a single, loading the bases. Afterwards, Brumley grounded into a fielder’s choice, where Smith was tagged out at home plate.

Diaz would then record a 2-RBI single, bringing Corley and Watkins home and trimming the score to 3-2. The inning came to an end after Romero grounded out.

The third inning started off with a single. Soon after, the runner was picked off at first base. After a double, a ground out and a fly out ended the Maidens’ turn.

The bottom of the third inning began with Thompson hitting a pop fly ball for an out, and Rainey grounding out. Though two runners were gained when Monk hit a single and Smith hit a double, the inning ended when Corley struck out, with Frankston still maintaining a slim lead.

For the fourth inning, Monk relieved Rainey in the circle. The inning started with an error. The next batter grounded into a double play.

The third out followed on a pop out, ending Frankston’s turn.

The bottom of the fourth inning kicked off with Watkins reaching base on an error. This was followed by Brumley lining out.

The bases then loaded up when Diaz reached base on an error, and Romero walked. Thompson then recorded a 2-RBI double, driving Diaz and Romero home and giving the Lady Eagles a 4-3 lead.

The inning came to an end after Rainey hit a fly ball for an out.

The fifth inning started with a strikeout. Following a single, an RBI double led to another run, tying the score at 4-4.

The next batter reached base on an error. This was followed by a ground out, but a run was also scored, as the Maidens reclaimed the lead at 5-4.

After a single, a fly out ended the Maidens’ turn.

The bottom of the fifth inning began with Monk hitting a fly ball for an out, and Smith striking out.

Two runners were then gained after Corley hit a single, and Watkins reached base on an error. Unfortunately, the inning ended after Brumley hit a fly ball for an out.

In the sixth inning, Rainey returned to the circle. The inning started with a strikeout. Following a single, the Maidens scored on a two-run home run, extending their lead to 7-4.

After a walk, another two-run home run was hit, raising Frankston’s lead to 9-4. This was followed by a ground out.

Following a single, a pop out finally ended Frankston’s turn.

The bottom of the sixth inning started with Diaz grounding out. A runner would be gained after Romero hit a single.

Unfortunately, the inning ended after Thompson struck out and Rainey lined out.

Monk would return to the circle for the final inning. The seventh inning kicked off with an error. A ground out followed, but another error led to another run, raising the score to 10-4.

Two runners were then gained on a walk and a double. A pop out and fly out afterwards ended Frankston’s turn.

The bottom of the seventh inning began with Monk grounding out. Soon after, Smith launched a solo home run, trimming the score to 10-5.

Unfortunately, Corley and Watkins hit fly balls for outs on the next at-bats, ending the game and allowing Frankston to even the series.

As a team, the Lady Eagles batted 10 for 33 (.303) from the plate. Smith led with three hits. Monk recorded two hits, while Corley, Diaz, Romero, Thompson, and Watkins added one hit a piece.

Corley, Diaz, Romero, Smith, and Watkins all scored one run each.

Rainey suffered the loss in the circle. In four innings, she gave up 10 hits, seven runs (six earned), and one walk, tallying two strikeouts. Monk pitched three relief innings, allowing four hits, three runs (one earned), and one walk, notching one strikeout.

With these results, the series tied up at 1-1. Game Three of the series was played Saturday. At the time of press, no score has been reported for that game.