Salado scores six runs in top of seventh to beat #1 team in state

Game two Friday at Waco-Midway

They should change their names to the Sharks, really they should.

With two outs in the top of the seventh and trailing by one, the Salado Lady Eagles smelled blood in the water.

And then the feeding frenzy began. Salado went on to score six runs to take an 8-3 lead over the #1 Crawford Lady Pirates tonight at Waco-Midway  in the first game of their best-of-three series for the Region III championship and a berth in the State Tournament.

Going into the sixth, Salado trailed by two runs, but with two outs and Grace Tauferner on first, Morgan Hill stepped to the plate and delivered an RBI double to narrow the lead to one.

She then pitched her way out of serious trouble in the bottom of the sixth when the Lady Pirates put runners at second and third with no outs.

She forced a pop-up to Meagan Hill freezing the runner and then struck out the next batter before forcing a grounder to her younger sister throwing the runner out at first.

Salado started the seventh with a single by Josie Norman, who stole second and went to third on an error. She was caught trying to get home on a fielder’s choice that put Kristen Oakes on first. 

CeCe Cantu doubled to right and Oakes was put out trying to stretch the play at home. With the bases loaded and two outs, Crawford shortstop made an errant throw to first, allowing a run to score to tie the game,

Reagan Best slammed the ball to the center field fence for a 2 RBI double. She stole third and a new pitcher was brought in for Crawford.

Morgan Hill walked to put runners at the corners and an errant catch on a deep shot by Malory Schattle scored a run and put runners at second and third. Shyenne Hicks stepped to the plate, knocking the ball to the fence and scoring the final two runs for Salado to give the girls an 8-3 lead going into the final frame.

Which they would need as Crawford scored three runs before Meagan Hill fielded a grounder and put the batter out at first to end the game.

Salado collected 12 hits in the game and committed three errors. Crawford had eight hits and committed five errors.

The teams will face each other Friday night at 7 p.m. at Waco-Midway softball field with a third game, if necessary, on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the same location.