The Tioga Lady Bulldogs softball team collected their 15th win of the season in a high-scoring 13-10 victory over the Dodd City Lady Hornets on April 11.
The two teams traded the lead multiple times throughout the seesaw affair, but the Lady Bulldogs pulled ahead late and made just enough defensive stops to take the win.
“Offensively, we did well,” Tioga head softball coach Hallie Martin said. “At the plate, we've really been killing it—one through nine. Everybody has a role, and they're definitely fulfilling it, but defensively we have a lot to work on. We've slacked off a little bit in the field and have gotten a little bit [complacent], so that's definitely our main focus going into playoffs.”
Dodd City struck first when catcher Ralyn Daniel drove the game’s first run with a ground ball single to right field, giving the Lady Hornets the lead 1-0 at the top of the first inning.
Tioga responded with a single to right field hit by pitcher Kennedy Slay that allowed second baseman Bella Dennis to cross home plate, tying the score at 1-all in the bottom of the first inning.
Slay made her way home later in the same inning after a sacrifice fly by third baseman Aly Salinas, giving the Lady Bulldogs their first lead at 2-1.
The Lady Bulldogs’ lead didn’t last long after Lady Hornet Kendyl Lindsey tied the game at 2 with a solo home run to right field at the top of the second inning.
Tioga retook the lead 5-2 with a three-run burst in the bottom of the second inning after Dennis scored on a ball that got away from Dodd City’s catcher, followed by a two-run home run to center field by outfielder Kyndall Whitley.
The Lady Hornets chipped away at the lead before eventually tying the game again at 5 at the top of the fourth inning.
The Lady Bulldogs moved back into the lead 8-5 with another three-run burst in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Dodd City answered with a four-run barrage of its own that put the Lady Hornets back on top 9-8 at the top of the fifth inning.
Tioga would go on to outscore Dodd City 5-1 over the final two innings and take the win 13-10.
Martin highlighted the hitting performances from Whitley and shortstop Kenzee Powers, who combined to go four for five in the batter’s box and generated 3 RBIs.
“Those two are our power hitters,” she said. “They always find a way to get on base. They're always scoring runs, whether it’s putting the ball in play or hitting stand-up doubles and triples or home runs. They definitely lead the team in getting rallies going and scoring runs.”
Slay, Dennis and utility player Skilar Hodge also collected two hits apiece and helped Tioga take the slight edge over Dodd City in the hitting battle, 13-11.
The Lady Bulldogs also burnt up the base path, stealing 18 bases on the night.
“That's always our game plan,” Martin said. “We have a pretty fast team all around, and we're always going to be aggressive on the bases. We have a motto of you run until we get thrown out, and once we get thrown out, we'll adjust.”
Despite sitting in prime position for the playoffs, Martin said the Lady Bulldogs have to shore things up defensively as they prepare for the postseason.
“We're struggling a little bit mentally in the field, failing at those routine plays and the things that we should be doing easily that we're not,” she said. “… We've been able to kind of come on top of some of these games, but once we get to these better teams deep in the playoffs, that might not be the case, so our main focus is to mentally prepare for those types of situations.”
The Lady Bulldogs capped their regular season with a 9-7 loss to the Whitewright Lady Tigers, finishing second in their district.
Tioga will be back on the field for the opening round of the playoffs, but details were not available by press time.
