The Natalia Lady Mustangs and the Cotulla Cowgirls battled in a hard-fought contest last week in a 9-inning extra inning battle. At the end of the day, Natalia didn’t make enough plays to win the game, as they suffered a tough 7-4 set-back resulting in a three-way tie for the 27-3A lead.
Natalia was without the services of their junior pitcher during this game, so freshman Kody Blanquiz stepped in and pitched a good game for the girls in blue. She pitched 9.0 innings for the first time this season, allowed six hits, walked seven and struck out 11 allowing seven runs, only one of which was earned.
After holding Cotulla to just one hit in their first at bat, Natalia went to work in the bottom of the 1st inning. Natalia used a triple by Taty Alvarado, a single by Trista Vera, a ground out and a single by Gabi Munoz to score in two runs.
The next offensive production took place in the bottom of the 4th, as Natalia used a Munoz triple, a fielder’s choice by Trina Vera and a ground out to score in two additional runs allowing for a 4-0 Natalia edge.
In the top of the 5th, Cotulla rallied with two outs and no one on to tie the game. They used a double by Ruiz, an error put into play by Castaneda, a double by Garcia and a two-run homerun by Leija to score four huge runs.
Natalia nearly scored a go-ahead run in the 5th, as Mena Figueroa blasted one against the wind to the left field fence. Cotulla’s left fielder made an amazing catch at the fence. Any other day except this windy day, this ball would have been gone. As a result, this score would stand until the 9th inning.
Cotulla put Natalia away in the 9th, as they used three walks, a fielder’s choice and a couple of Natalia errors to score in three big runs.
Natalia’s only hope in the 9th came with two outs as freshman Gallegos got on with a single. Unfortunately, Natalia popped out for the 3rd and final out as Cotulla picked up a 7-4 victory.
At bat: Blanquiz 0-4, Trista Vera 1-4-1RBI-1run scored, Alvarado 2-4, Munoz 3-4-1RBI-1run scored, Gallegos 2-4-1RBI, Figueroa 0-4, KK Lara 0-4, Trina Vera 0-4-1run scored, Marina Billalobos 1-3-1RBI.
Defensive Put-Outs: Vera 11, Munoz 7, Alvarado 4, Blanquiz 2, Val Carrion 1, Trina Vera 1. Assists: Alvarado 3, Blanquiz 1, Trina Vera 1.
By Eric Smith
Staff Writer