Salado Lady Eagles are going to the softball playoffs as either the third or fourth place team from District 25-4A. The girls lost to first-place Burnet last night 5-1 at Liberty Hill, a game that was rescheduled due to rains early this week.

The lone run for Salado came in the third inning. Meagan Hill led off the frame with a bunt, beating the throw to first. Payton Dreitz followed with a bunt. An error on the catch by first baseman Alex Barry allowed Dreitz to get to first and Hill to turn the corner and get to third. With runners at the corners, Malory Schattle knocked a sacrifice fly to left field to score Hill and advance Dreitz before Burnet recorded the final two outs of the inning.

Burnet took command of the game in the second inning, scoring four runs with only two hits.

Natalie Frank reached on a walk. Barry singled to right and a fielding error let the ball roll to the fence and Frank to score. Barry made it to third on the error. She scored on a single to right by Soiee Still who stretched the single into a double. Vanessa Escamilla walked. Still scored on a passed ball while Escamilla stole second base. A double to center by Lexey Parker brought Escamilla across the plate before Hill struck out the next two batters in nine pitches.

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Burnet added a run in the fourth. With two outs and no runners, Escamilla double to left. She scored on a single by Lexey Parker, who was left stranded on base.

Burnet had eight hits on Hill, who was issued the loss on the mound. Hill went seven innings, striking out 11 batters and walking four.

Makenzie Carpenter pitched seven innings for Burnet, striking out 12 batters, giving up three hits and walking one.

Lindy Martin and Bailey Tindell both had singles in the second inning; however, the Lady Eagles could not convert bases loaded into a run and left three stranded.