The Natalia Lady Mustang defense was not flawless by any means, but luckily five defensive errors didn’t prove to cost them during their second 26-3A battle of the season.
Natalia out-hit the home squad Karnes City Lady Badgers 12-7, en route to a 7-2 road win Tuesday night, March 21st.
“I was happy how we battled through although we continued to have issues defensively,” said Coach Travis Crowley.
Natalia junior Felicia Guzman did a good job on the mound, as he pitched 7.0 innings, scattered seven hits, walked two and struck out four in the game. When the game concluded, two runs given up by Guzman turned out to be unearned.
Offensively, Natalia had to adjust to a pitcher who was a bit wild and unpredictable. As a result, the girls in blue came alive in the top of the 2nd inning.
Natalia got on the board, thanks to a base on balls by JuJu Morales and singles by Bryanna Perez, Gabby Contreras and Regina Garza. This allowed for a 3-0 lead.
The girls in blue added to the lead, with a run in the top of the 3rd that came courtesy of singles by Biviana Figueroa and Felicia Guzman.
KC broke open their scoreless side of the scoreboard in the bottom of the 4th. They used a pair of singles and a tough defensive error to score their first run of the game.
Natalia got that run back in the top of the 5th, as they used a Morales base on balls and a clutch single by Perez to extend their lead to 5-1 over the Lady Badgers.
The girls in blue went on to add a run in the 6th and one in the 7th thanks to clutch hits by D. Garza, a big triple by Figueroa (KC Coach ordered their pitcher to walk Figueroa, but she managed a triple), a single by Guzman and a double by Contreras to extend their lead to 7-1 versus the home squad.
KC scored one final run in their last at bat, thanks to two Natalia errors, a single and a fielder’s choice, but it was not enough.
“Picking up a second district win on the road was a step in the right direction for our program for the goals we have set,” Crowley said.
At Bat: D. Garza 2-4-1run scored, Jasmine Gomez 0-4-1RBI, Guzman 2-4-1run scored, Contreras 2-4-1RBI-1run scored, Perez 2-3-1RBI-1run scored, Morales 0-2-2runs scored, R. Garza 2-4-1RBI, Figueroa 2-4-1run scored and Gabi Sontoya 0-3.
Defensive Put-outs: Perez 6, D. Garza 5, Figueroa 5, Guzman 2, Contreras 2, R. Garza 1.
By Eric Smith
Staff Writer