Lady Wildcats lose preview to Bullard

• Abbey Goldsmith (5) takes a lead off from second base during recent action. The Sulphur Springs Lady Wildcats lost their playoff warmup game to the Bullard Lady Panthers Friday, falling 4-0. Photo by DJ Spencer

Higgins records only hit

BULLARD — The Sulphur Springs Lady Wildcats saw their 11-game winning streak come to an end Friday following a 4-0 loss to the No. 16 Bullard Lady Panthers in a playoff warmup game. All game long, the Lady Wildcats couldn’t establish any rhythm, leading to a shutout loss.

The Lady Panthers got on the board right away with a run in the first inning. Another run in the second inning extended their lead to 2-0.

In the third inning, the Lady Panthers would add another run, bringing the score to 3-0. This would be followed by a scoreless fourth inning.

After the fifth inning was also scoreless, the Lady Panthers scored another run in the sixth inning. Following another scoreless inning for the Lady Wildcats, the game ended, as the Lady Panthers handed the Lady Wildcats a 4-0 loss.

As a team, the Lady Wildcats batted just 1 for 22 (.045) from the plate, with Nicole Higgins recorded the only hit. Abbey Goldsmith and Anahi Velasquez were the only other players to reach base, coming on an error and a walk.

Hannah Speed suffered the loss in the circle. Across five inning, despite tallying seven strikeouts, she surrendered four hits, four walks, and three earned runs. Goldsmith pitched one relief inning, conceding two hits, one earned run, and one walk.

With the loss, the Lady Wildcats dropped to 18-82 on the season. They will now focus on the upcoming playoffs.

The Lady Wildcats will play the Brownsboro Bearettes in the Bi-District round of the playoffs. This will be a best-of-three series at Athens High School.

Game One will be Thursday at 6 p.m. Game Two will be Friday at 6 p.m. Game Three, if needed, will be Saturday at 12 p.m.