By BRAD KEITH
TheFlashToday.com
(May 6, 2017) — Julia Flores and Cheyanne Ellett battled it out in the circle for 14 innings at Brock Friday night, and after Stephenville (26-5) and Brownwood (27-6) split the doubleheader, they’ll have to battle some more on Saturday.
Stephenville came back in the sixth inning to win game one, 2-1, before Brownwood scored the winning run in the fifth to take game two by the same score. The decisive rubber match of the Region I-4A area round series is 12:30 p.m. today, with Stephenville trying to advance to its second straight regional quarterfinal and Brownwood attempting to defend its regional championship from last season.
Morgan DiCiccio drove in the tying run then score the winning run for Stephenville in the bottom of the sixth inning of game one. Sam Luna bunted for a single, stole second then scored on DiCiccio’s line-drive single to right field.
DiCiccio allowed the same formula as Luna to score, stealing second to get into position. She came in on a bunt hit by Madison Gilder.
Brownwood had grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Ellett doubled and scored moments later on a single.
Game two was just as much as a grind, with Stephenville tallying just two hits off Ellett while she struck out 14. The sophomore recorded 26 strikeouts and allowed just six hits in the doubleheader.
Brownwood opened the scoring with a triple followed by a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third, but Stephenville quickly tied it in the top of the fourth. Gilder was again involved as she singled, moved to third on a single by Nadine Arredondo then scored on an error charged to the Brownwood catcher.
Ellett drove in the winning run herself in the bottom of the fifth. Danyelle Gongola reached on error and moved to second on a single before Ellett stepped up and lined one to centerfield to bring her home.
Flores allowed just six hits and a walk while striking out six in game one for Stephenville. She was no less effective in game two, when the Lady Lions had six hits and no walks while striking out six times. The junior was making her return after being out eight days with a hand injury. She did not pitch when the Bees swept Springtown in a bi-district series last week.
The winner of game three meets Mineral Wells or Vernon in the regional quarterfinals.
Thank you Brad. These are very good articles. These were there of the best games, these were two very equally matched teams. Again thank you..!!
Tom Gordon