PINE PRAIRIE -- The Pine Prairie Lady Panthers dominated the Iota Lady Dogs off the back of a strong defensive showing and a huge fifth inning to seal an 8-1 victory.
Pine Prairie improves to 17-9 on the season and 11-2 in district play. The Lady Panthers will travel to Crowley today for their final district contest of the season.
The win puts Pine Prairie in the driver’s seat for the league title one game ahead of Crowley. A win over the Ladies today assures the Lady Panthers the district title.
The top of the first inning saw the Lady Bulldogs go down in order, as Pine Prairie starting pitcher Brianna Wall and the Lady Panther defense did their job.
In the bottom half of the inning, Maycie Hardy started things off offensively for Pine Prairie by collecting bases off of an Iota defensive error. Asia George stepped up to bat next and grounded the ball, allowing Hardy to take third base. Jacie McFarlain also grounded the ball scoring Hardy to give the Lady Panther's their first score of the game.
Iota didn't have much luck in the top of the second inning either, only getting one runner to first base. Pine Prairie was also blanked in the bottom half of the inning, as the Lady Bulldogs turned a double play to kill any offensive momentum built up by the Lady Panthers.
The Lady Dogs had more luck at the top of the third inning, as their first batter was able to reach two bases off an error. Their next player sent her home on a double to center field, tying the game at 1-1.
The Lady Panthers eased back on top of Iota in the bottom of the third, scoring a single run. With two outs, Hardy singled and scored on a three bag error off the bat of Asia George.
The fourth inning was mainly a wash as neither team could muster up any success at the plate.
At the top of the fifth inning, Iota got their lead off hitter on with a single. However, that runner was stranded at first base when Wall induced two fly balls and grounded out.
Pine Prairie broke the game wide open in the bottom of the fifth, scoring seven huge runs. Kaitlyn Robinson was first up for the Lady Panthers and was able to take first base after she was hit by the pitch.
Natalie Soileau, pinch hitting for Kaitlyn Fontenot, singled. Robinson was thrown out trying to reach third base, allowing Soileau to move to second. Hardy followed with a single, plating Soileau.
George made it back-to-back singles, putting runners at first and second base. McFarlain singled, scoring Hardy and pushed George over to third base. McFarlain reached second on the throw in from the Iota outfield.
Kailey Soileau drew a walk to load the bases. Wall singled, sending George home, keeping the bases juiced. An error off the bat of Allie Fontenot plated McFarlain and Soileau and moved Wall to third base. Abbie Fontenot finished off the scoring, singling home Wall.
From that point on it was just a matter of shutting down the Lady Bulldogs in the field to secure the win.
Image
SYLIS MANUEL Staff Writer