KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
SAN BENITO—After grabbing an early lead in the first inning, it looked as if the San Benito Lady ‘Hounds were going to cruise to another win.
Well, Incarnate Word pitcher Morgan Gutierrez had other ideas.
Gutierrez found a groove by retiring 18 of the next 20 batters she faced in a complete game, three-hit performance. Along with Gutierrez was Briley Wingey, who hit a two-run home run in the third inning that proved to be the difference in a 5-3 win over the Lady ‘Hounds Wednesday afternoon in San Benito.
“We were just undisciplined at the plate,” San Benito coach Denise Lira said. “We were not swinging at our pitches and we were not staying in the zone. Normally we have a good approach and today, we just didn’t have it.”
The Lady ’Hounds offense got off to a strong start in the first inning. After back to back walks from April and Sarah Garcia, Kari Cisneros drove in the first run of the afternoon. Later in the inning, AJ Jasso belted a two-run double that brought in two more runs, giving the Lady Hounds their only lead of the afternoon at 3-0.
After the first inning, the Lady Hounds bats went silent and didn’t produce a base runner until a fifth inning walk from April Garcia that broke up a string of 12 straight batters retired.
“We have been playing well, we will get back on track and tomorrow we will get back to practice and get ready for district play and now everything truly counts and this is something that we have been working for since the start of the season.”
In the circle for San Benito, Jenessa Silva got the start and pitched into the third inning where she ran into trouble, giving up five runs, including Wingey’s two-run homer to break a 3-3 tie.
Megan Cavazos came in relief in the third inning and finished off the game going 4.2, while keeping Incarnate Word at bay allowing no hits and struck out three.
San Benito will open up district 32-6A play on Tuesday at home against Harlingen High, with the first pitch set for 7 p.m.