Oxford, AL - Heartbreaker. That's the only word that fittingly describes the ICC softball team's 2-1 loss to #6 seeded LSU Eunice in the first round game of the NJCAA Division II National Tournament at Choccolocco Field on Tuesday. The #11 seeded Cougars used solid pitching and sound defense to go toe-to-toe with the Bengals, only to lose on a walk-off hit to left-center field in the bottom of the ninth after a near two-hour rain delay.
With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth LSUE had a runner on first with no outs when a lightning strike sent both teams to their dugouts at 7:30 pm. That pause turned into a nearly two hour delay, forcing both teams to their buses. After warming back up play resumed at approximately 9:30 pm. Barely two minutes after restarting, the LSUE runner on first stole second to get in scoring position and then the next batter hit a liner into the gap, scoring the runner from second and giving the Bengals the victory.
"This kind of loss is really, really tough," head coach
Heather Doty said. "But our kids have persevered all season so we'll find a way to be ready to battle tomorrow."
ICC was primed for a big start as
Sydnee Usherwood led off the game with a single and then
Olivia Drish,
Kiersten Manning, and
Priscilla Peek all drew walks to give ICC a 1-0 lead. However, the Bengals' pitcher settled down to fan the next two batters to get out of the inning with minimal damage.
Manning was also on point as she did not allow any runners past second until the bottom of the fifth when LSUE had their first real scoring opportunity. The Bengals had runners on first and second with just one out and hit a bunt that catcher
Savanah Clifton field cleanly and tossed to
Olivia Stirnaman at first base for the second out. Stirnaman immediately fired the ball back home to Clifton who tagged the Bengal runner trying to score for the double play to keep the Cougar lead in tact at 1-0.
LSUE scratched a run across in the bottom of the 6th inning to tie the game at 1-1, and with neither team able to score in the seventh the game headed into extras.
ICC's defense again came through with a big double play in the bottom of the eighth as third baseman Peek snagged a line-drive and then got the runner out on second who was caught off the base for the final out of the inning.
The Cougars were unable to score in the top of the ninth, and then the lightning showed up to force the pause in action.
Manning limited the Bengals to just three hits in eight innings while striking out seven.
Hanna Evans came on in relief in the ninth and took the loss.
Sydney Usherwood had the two hits for ICC, both singles.
Next up: The Cougars will face #14 seeded Oakland CC (MI) at 2pm in the consolation bracket on Wednesday, May 25 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford.
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