Lady Mules Softball vs. Forsan (2-29-2016)

Lady Mules Softball vs. Forsan (2-29-2016)

The Forsan Lady Buffs did not realize their troubles had just begun when their bus broke down 10 miles from Muleshoe. Muleshoe High School sent a bus to pick up the Buffs and bring them to the field.

Three and half innings into the game the Buffs had the Lady Mules down 14-4 but that was when the game came unraveled for the Buffs. The Lady Mules batted around in the bottom of the fourth inning to trim the Buff lead to 14-11.

The Buffs only scored one more run in the next three innings. The Lady Mules continued to chip away at the Buffs lead and scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth, two in the sixth and three in the seventh to defeat the Buffs 18-15.

Mireya Ruvalcaba had a day to remember. She was directly involved in 11 of the 21 Buff outs. She scored five runs, walked twice, reached on two errors, singled and blasted a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second inning.

Crystal Flores was the winning pitcher for the Lady Mules. She gave up 15 runs on 20 hits, walked two and struck out three. The Lady Mules committed three errors. Flores seemed to get stronger in the circle each inning.

The Buffs sandwiched three runs between a pop fly to Ruvalcaba for the first out and a second pop fly to Ruvalcaba that ended the inning. Flores struck out a batter on a called out for the second out.

Ruvalcaba drew a lead-off walk, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. She scored when Sasha Esparza ripped a ground ball down the third baseline for a double. Flores walked and attempted to score on Esparza’s double but was thrown out at home plate.

Reagan Reynolds reached first when the left fielder dropped her fly ball. Reynolds went to second on a passed ball. Both Esparza and Reynolds scored on a single to right field by Brittney Mendoza. The Lady Mules had tied the game at 3-3.

Two Lady Mule errors in the top of the second inning turned into four Buff runs.

Ruvalcaba blasted a lead-off home run over the left field fence for the only Lady Mule run in the bottom of the second inning. The Lady Mules trailed 7-4 after two innings.

The Buffs scored three runs in the top of the third inning and four runs in the top of the fourth to lead the Lady Mules 14-4 after three and half innings.

The Lady Mules sent 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning and scored seven runs. Esparza led off with a single up the middle and Reynolds singled to left. An error by the short stop allowed Haley Hunt to reach first to load the bases. Mendoza walked to score Esparza. Brooklyn Beall singled to right field to score Reynolds. Melody Moran single to shallow centerfield to score both Hunt and Mendoza.

Ruvalcaba singled to right field to load the bases. Esparza sent a bouncing ball up the middle to score Beall, Moran and Ruvalcaba. The Lady Mules had cut the Forsan lead to 14-11.

The Buffs scored one run in the top of the fifth on two base hits.

Brianna Barron singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning. Mendoza lined a single to left field to put Lady Mules at first and second. Beall lined a single to right field to score Barron from second base. Moran hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Mendoza. Forsan led 15-13 after five innings.

The Lady Mules tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with two runs. Ruvalcaba reached on an error by the short stop to lead off the sixth inning. Flores drew a walk on four pitches.

Esparza doubled to the fence in left center field to score Ruvalcaba from second base and Flores went to third. Reynolds lofted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Flores and tie the game at 15-15 after six innings.

Moran hit a one-out single to left field. Ruvalcaba walked on four pitches to put Lady Mules at first and second. Flores singled to right field to score Moran. Esparza ripped a double off the fence in centerfield to score Ruvalcaba and Flores and end the game.

The Lady Mules hosted the Amarillo High JV Tuesday and traveled to Lubbock to play the Frenship JV March 14. The Lady Mules return home March 22 to host the River Road Lady Cats.