HARLINGEN — In the 10th inning with all eyes on her, Harlingen South’s Ariel De La Fuente stepped up to the plate and delivered the game-winning RBI to give the Lady Hawks at 3-2 win over Brownsville Hanna on Friday at South.
The senior catcher blasted the ball deep into left field allowing Kristina Sanchez to come home for the winning run.
“Early in the game we left too many runners on base,” said Harlingen South head coach Debbie Esparza. “Mackenzie (Wiley) was great on the mound and her defense held on for her.
“The seniors played really well tonight. All three of them Miranda (Valdez), Mackenzie and Ariel did their job on the bases. Ariel and Miranda were the two that scored to tie it up.”
Brownsville Hanna’s ace Juliette Gonzales made her presence known at her first at-bat. The sophomore pitcher fired a ball out of the park to put the Lady Golden Eagles ahead 1-0. Gonzalez had 14 strikeouts on the night but couldn’t put the game away.
“She’s been very consistent the whole year,” said Brownsville Hanna head coach Rey Lerma. “We haven’t helped her offensively and tonight we didn’t help her defensively, but she’s been a steady performer through out the year.
“We’ve lost some close ones to Brownsville Veterans and to Harlingen but she is only a sophomore and that is something to look at.”
In the top of the third Itxel Martinez picked up an RBI single that brought home Britany Rey from second base.
With their backs against the wall, Harlingen South poured it on late. Ashley Reyna hit an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth. The first baseman managed to make contact and bring in Miranda Valdez and Ariel De La Fuente to even the score at two a piece.