By ADAM KUJAWSKI, Staff Writer
It took two innings for the Los Fresnos Lady Falcons to secure enough runs for a victory.
A five-run second inning led to an eventual 11-2 win over the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Lady Chargers on Tuesday in Brownsville.
“It was good (to get an early lead),” Los Fresnos coach Traci Blackman said. “I thought we did a good job of staying focused and finishing.”
Stephanie Perez led off the second frame with a single — her first of three hits on the night — for the Lady Falcons and soon advanced one base on a wild pitch by pitcher Cassie Valdez.
“(Stephanie) has been sick, so we’ve been trying to hold her out a little bit,” Blackman said. “She usually plays first base for us. They did tell us she could hit today and she was excited, so that’s good for us.”
Vicky Rodriguez followed the hit with a bunt single to advance Perez to third, and two batters later Marisela Gaytan drew a walk to load the bases.
Vivikah Pesina recorded an RBI following a single that scored Perez for the first run of the game. Rodriguez then scored on a wild pitch, and Maya Guevara helped Los Fresnos maintain momentum when she tallied two RBIs on a double to left field. Guevara then advanced to third and home on a pair of wild pitches.
“We had some trouble defensively in the second inning when we gave up five, and it changes the feel of the game,” Brownsville Veterans coach Ray Cardenas said. “To be down five to a really good team puts you in a certain position to where you can’t afford to make mistakes.”
With the score 5-0 in favor of the Lady Falcons, Valdez retired the next two batters, one via strikeout and the other on a line drive to the shortstop Rheanna Gomez.
Los Fresnos scored one run in each of the next four innings and added two more in the seventh.
Brownsville Veterans managed to string together enough offense to push across runs on one occasion. It took them until the fourth inning, but the Lady Chargers’ Gomez led off with a single to left field and Sarah Sandoval was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Kianna Silva hit a single to center field to drive in the Lady Chargers’ only two runs of the game.
The game was the second in as many nights for the Lady Chargers, who were coming off a 3-2 victory over Hanna on Monday.
“It puts a lot of pressure on the pitching,” Cardenassaid. “Our pitcher last night put together seven complete innings in a very, very emotional game against Hanna. We had to consider whether to throw her again or if it’s better to give (Valdez) some experience and save our arms for a long district race.”
Gaytan pitched seven innings and allowed eight hits and zero walks. She issued two strikeouts.
Pesina joined Perez as Los Fresnos batters who had three hits, and Victoria Loa, Dori Alcalde and Vicky Rodriguez each recorded two for the Lady Falcons.
Thalia Perez had a pair of hits for the Lady Chargers.
Adam Kujawski covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @adamkujo1.