Falling on the road, the Escalon varsity softball girls came back with a win at home to split their games this past week.
They traveled to nearby Ripon for a Trans-Valley League contest on Tuesday, April 12 and fell by an 8-7 final. Ripon is 7-0 in league play, in first place; Escalon sits in third place at 4-3.
Escalon had the lead late but couldn’t hold off the league leaders.
“We led 7-5 going to the bottom of the sixth, they scored one, we didn’t score in the top of the seventh and they got a two-run walk off home run in the bottom of the seventh,” said head coach Jeff Borden. “We left seven runners on base again.”
The Lady Cougars have often had trouble getting the timely hit this season and it was the same storyline in the game against Ripon.
“Brooke Davis struck out 11 in the loss,” added Borden. “Tulsa Carnes, Macie Vickers, and Shelby Wilder led the offense.”
Carnes had a solo home run and another hit for a couple of RBIs; Macie Vickers had a double, single and an intentional walk in three at-bats. Wilder had two hits on the afternoon.
“Lucy Allbaugh also had a double. Emily Vickers, Grace Spurgeon, and Brooke Davis each had a hit and an RBI,” Borden said.
Thursday, the girls were back on the home diamond and came away with a win. Hosting Livingston, it was a 4-0 final for the Lady Cougars.
“Brooke came back with a three-hit, 16-strikeout shutout,” noted Borden.
Allbaugh was the catalyst on offense in the win with two hits, including a double and an RBI. Carnes had a double and an RBI, Madison Hagglund and Grace Spurgeon each had a hit and drove in a run.
Briana Vazquez and Madellyn Spurgeon each contributed a hit.
“We again left seven runners stranded on the bases,” explained Borden. “The lack of timely hits has been our downfall all season.”
The league schedule is paused this week as most schools are on spring break. Escalon is slated to take part in the NorCal Classic Tournament in Tracy. They are scheduled to play Thursday and Friday, starting out with a game Thursday, April 21 against Bella Vista of Sacramento. It is a double elimination tournament.
