Ladycats defeat Lady Razorbacks 5-4 to start softball season

HOPE – The Hope High School Ladycats softball team opened the 2010 season with a big victory against the class 6A Arkansas High Lady Razorbacks 5-4 in seven innings, Monday March 1 at Ladycat Stadium.

In game action, the Ladycats had a total of five runs scored off six hits and the Lady Razorbacks scored four runs off nine hits.

In the top of the first inning, Jami Godwin led pitching for the Ladycats having one strike out and the Lady Razorbacks recorded no hits, runs or errors. In the bottom of the first, Sara Bateman flied out to second, Malloree Butler went safe to first on the Lady Razorbacks fielding error, and Stephanie Winfield flied out to right. Chelsee Cornelius doubled, with Malloree Butler scoring and Godwin flied out to right.

The Ladycats recorded one run, off one hit. At the end of the first, the Ladycats led Arkansas High, 1-0.

In the top of the second inning, the Lady Razorbacks capitalized recording one run off two hits and Godwin having one strike out for the Ladycats. In the bottom of the second, Shantae Henry and Marlee Butler both flied out to second. The Ladycats recorded no runs, or hits in the inning. At end of the second, Hope and Arkansas High were tied 1-1.

In the top of the third inning, the Lady Razorbacks recorded no runs or hits. In the bottom of the third, Allena White was hit by the pitch, then moved to second base. Malloree Butler grounded out to third, White moved to third base, and Winfield grounded out to second. At the end of the third, Hope and Arkansas High remained tied at 1-1.

In the top of the fourth, Godwin kept the heat going at the pitcher's circle having one strike out and the Lady Razorbacks recorded no runs or hits. In the bottom of the fourth, Cornelius singled, then moved to second, Godwin grounded out to second, with Cornelius heading to third. Henry grounded out to short, and Cornelius scored. The Ladycats recorded one run off one hit taking the lead over Arkansas High 2-1 at the end of the fourth inning.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Lady Razorbacks tied the game recording one run off two hits. In the bottom of the fifth, Marlee Butler flied out to short, White grounded out to third, Bateman doubled and Malloree Butler flied out to second. The Ladycats recorded one hit and were tied with the Lady Razorbcacks 2-2 at the end of the fifth.

In the top of the sixth, Winfield relieved Godwin at the pitchers circle having two strike outs and the Lady Razorbacks recorded no runs off two hits. In the bottom of the sixth, Winfield singled, Cornelius flied out to left, Godwin flied out to short, and Winfield moved to second. The Ladycats recorded no runs or hits in the inning as the game remained knotted at 2-2, to close out the sixth.

 In the top of the seventh, the Lady Razorbacks sparked recording two runs off one hit to lead Hope 4-2 Winfield had two strike outs for the Ladycats. In the bottom of the seventh, the Ladycats built some momentum with a big come back to record three runs off two hits. Marlee Butler walked, White singled, Bateman doubled with Butler and White scoring runs. Malloree Butler walked, Bateman moved to third base, then Butler moved to second, Winfield went safe to first on the Lady Razorbacks fielding error and Bateman scored the winning run to give the Ladycats the victory over Arkansas High.