By Trent Friedel, exclusive to the Times Saint Mary’s Lady Tiger softball clinches a berth in the quarterfinals in Sulphur with a victory over Ouachita Christian. Meredith Matt had the pitching honors and had another good outing. She allowed only two runs in the contest and issued no walks.
The Tigers held OCS scoreless in the first and allowed one hit. In the bottom of the inning, leadoff hitter Ragan Hale struck out swinging and Maria Bienvenu gets on first base after running the count full and taking ball four. Kelsie Ward grounds out and Bienvenu advances to second. Olivia Miller singles and Bienvenu scores in the inning to put the Tigers on the board first. Saint Mary’s retires the side in order three up, three down in the second. The Tigers get another run across the plate and strand one on base in the bottom of the inning. Chloe Longlois gets the RBI as Methvin scores. Tigers 2-0.
The third inning is a repeat of the second for OCS as the side is retired in order and the Tigers look to get back to offensive production. Bienvenu singles to start things off. The next two batters are non- productive at the plate but Bienvenu advances to second on the grounder by Miller.
Ashlyn Beaty sends one for a ride over the center field wall and the homer scores two. The Tigers lead 4-0. Ouachita Christian gets the bats going in the fourth inning. The first three hitters reach on singles before Saint Mary’s records an out. The fly ball hit by #9 serves as a sacrifice as one run scores and the play is repeated for the next batter. Another runner crosses home plate after tagging up on the fly ball to right field. OCS has cut the lead in half and has runners on first and second with two outs.
Meredith Matt gets the next batter to ground out to end the inning. Saint Mary’s gets three runners on base in the bottom of the inning but none score. The Tigers again send three in a row back to the dugout in the top of the fifth. They are unable to produce runs to extend their lead. The four runs are enough to secure a victory after the Eagles threatened in the fourth inning and cannot add runs in the sixth or seventh. Saint Mary’s will head to Sulphur and face Catholic of Pointe Coupee.
The Hornets are the four seed in the Division IV playoff bracket.