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The LaFayette Bulldogs softball team had a high-scoring battle against Loachopka, ultimately losing 29-27 on Tuesday. The Bulldogs (0-5) will look for revenge as they travel to Loachapoka for a rematch on Thursday, March 20. 

Loachapoka jumped out to an early lead scoring three runs on four hits. A single would tack on another run in the top of the second, followed by an inside-the-park home run, which scored three. LaFayette was in danger of being mercy-ruled in the second as the defense allowed six hits and four hit-by-pitch baserunners. After the top of the second inning, the Indians were up 16-0. 

The Bulldogs offense took that personally. 

In the bottom of the inning, LaFayette would halve the lead, scoring eight runs. Hope McClure took a hit by pitch to get on base first. Chasidy Lewis batted home the first run of the night for the Bulldogs with a triple. A fielder’s choice by Eriyunna Holloway brought Lewis home. Loachapoka’s pitcher preceded to walk the next six batters for three earned runs. 

With bases loaded and one out, LaFayette orchestrated a triple-steal. Carly Laborde stole home on Ball 2, as Deazia Avery stole third and Williams stole second. A work of art in base running. 

McClure added another RBI with a fielder’s choice grounder. To end the big inning, Williams would steal home to make it 16-8 going into the third inning. 

Loachapoka climbed with three quick runs off of two hits, extending the lead to 19-8. 

But once again, the offense would not let the Indians win without a fight. In the bottom of the third inning, the LaFayette lineup strung together four hits for as many runs. Charlinda Watson batted in Holloway with a single to start it off. With bases loaded, Avery hits a clutch single to bring another run home. Kiyanna Williams would hit a single of her own during the next at-bat, scoring two runs to bring the score to 19-12. 

It was not just LaFayette’s day offensively. In the top of the fourth, the Indians scored another four runs to sail past a 20-run game. 

The Bulldogs would not outscore the visiting team in the inning, putting up three runs in the fourth. Loachapoka’s pitcher loaded the bases to start the bottom of the fourth. Watson notches another two RBIs with a single. A sac fly by Williams later in the inning would put the score to 23-15.

For the lowest-scoring inning of the game for Loachapoka, the Bulldogs held them to just one run in the fifth. However, LaFayette would match them in the box score. A fielder’s choice by Jayden Anderson scored the lone run for the Bulldogs. 

In the final inning, Loachapoka answered with five runs on five hits. LaFayette had three outs to score 13 runs in order to win. They came amazingly close to the herculean task. 

A single by Avery followed by a William’s double scored the first run in the bottom of the sixth. A fielder’s choice scored the second in exchange for an out. However, a fly-out soon left LaFayette with an 11-point deficit with two outs to go. 

They may have lost the game, but the Bulldogs went down swinging. A hit-by-pitch, then four balls, gets runners on. Speedy Lewis steals home successfully. Then, a single and a single and aa single and a single. Clutch hitting closed the game to seven runs. A bases-loaded ball four, walks a runner home, six runs.

Avery then scores on a wild pitch, five runs. Williams scores on another wild pitch, four runs. McClure steals home, three runs to go. Caniyah Williams singles to bring it within two runs. 

David would score nine runs with two outs left in the game before Goliath finally brought them down. The Bulldogs would have to settle for a 29-27 loss. 

Seven in LaFayette’s lineup had hits on Tuesday night. Daezia Avery led the team with four hits. Watson, Kiyanna Williams and Lewis had three hits apiece. Kiyanna Williams led the team in RBIs, scoring five runners. Watson followed with four RBIs, while McClure and Avery both tallied three. All nine players walked away with an RBI during the game.