Bees give up late lead in extra-inning loss

Staff Report

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STEPHENVILLE (March 28, 2015) — Stephenville was one out away from evening its District 6-4A softball record Friday evening, but Mineral Wells had other plans.

The Lady Rams scored twice in the top of the seventh to tie the game, prevented Stephenville from scoring with a runner at third in the bottom of the seventh, then reeled off three runs in the decisive ninth inning of an 8-5 victory over the Honeybees at McCleskey Field.

A two-run home run in the third and a run in the fifth gave Mineral Wells a 3-2 lead before Stephenville appeared to take control with three runs in the bottom of the fifth on an error and two passed balls.

Diciccio singled to third with one out to begin the big fifth inning for the Bees. Flores then reached on an error to put runners on the corners before Diciccio scored on an error with Sierra Varnado at the plate. Diciccio and Varnado each scored on passed balls to give Stephenville a 5-3 lead.

After the Lady Rams tied it in the top of the seventh, the Bees had a chance to win it with their final at bat of regulation. Varnado was hit by a pitch and a single by Emily Miller moved her to third two batters later. It was all for not though when a popup ended in a double play to send the game to extra innings.

A single and back-to-back doubles proved to be all Mineral Wells would need in the top of the ninth, but the Lady Rams added two more runs anyway. Batters reached on a hit by pitch and dropped third strike, bringing in one run, before another scored on a fielder’s choice.

Pitcher Julia Flores reached second on a one-out error in Stephenville’s half of the ninth, and she advanced to third on a dropped third strike that ultimately retired Varnado at first. Nadine Arredondo walked before a line out to the pitcher ended the game.

Diciccio was 3-for-5 and scored there times. Emily Miler was 2-for-5 for Stephenville. Hope Patterson had the home run and one of the key ninth-inning doubles for Mineral Wells, finishing 4-for-4 from the plate with four RBIs and two runs.

The Bees had eight hits and Mineral Wells seven. Each team committed a whopping five errors.

Stephenville continues 6-4A play at Abilene Wylie on Thursday at about 7:30 p.m., following a 5:30 p.m. junior varsity contest.