Sachse shortstop Brooke Robinson throws to first base after stepping on the second-base bag during Game 1 of a Class 6A Division I bi-district playoff game at Sachse High School on Wednesday, April 22. Photo by Tina Lopez / C&S Media
By David Wolman
When the Sachse softball team played Rockwall-Heath at a preseason tournament on Feb. 21, the Lady Mustangs rode a 14-strikeout performance from junior pitcher Maya McClarity to earn a 1-0 win over the Lady Hawks.
The two teams rekindled their rivalry Wednesday night.
Unfortunately for Sachse, the rematch was all Rockwall-Heath. Three home runs by the Lady Hawks and five defensive errors proved too much for the Lady Mustangs to overcome in 12-0 run-rule loss in five innings in Game 1 of a Class 6A Division I bi-district playoff series at Sachse High School.
Rockwall-Heath hit the ball hard and often, and it didn’t take long for the Lady Hawks’ offense to find its rhythm.
After a misplayed ball in left field by Sachse rolled to the fence and allowed Piper Moore to reach third base, Taylor Scott connected on a two-run home run for a 2-0 Rockwall-Heath in the top of the first inning.
The long ball played a key role in helping the Lady Hawks to gain the early advantage and keeping it.
Moore clubbed a two-run home run over her own over the fence in left field in the second inning, and Rockwall-Heath’s lead grew to 5-0 with an RBI ground-out.
Sachse threatened to cut into that lead in the home half of the second.
The Lady Mustangs put runners at first and second bases with one out after consecutive walks were issued to Xochitl Mendoza and Alex Valencia. However, Lady Hawks pitcher Alex Pitre, who finished with seven strikeouts over seven shutout innings, quickly eliminated that scoring threat, striking out the next Sachse batter that she face before a ground-ball out ended the inning.
Sachse was held to two hits, both on a bunt single by Kendyl Cruz.
Rockwall-Heath struck for two more runs in the third inning, four more in the fourth, before Pitre capped off the scoring by hitting a solo home run over the fence in straight-away center in the fifth.
Sachse (15-16-1) will need to win the final two games of this best-of-three series to extend its season. Game 2 is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Rockwall-Heath. If necessary, Game 3 will be played at 6:30 p.m. Friday at either Rowlett or Wylie East.
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