The Abilene Cooper Cougars used two big innings to take an 8-6 victory over the Aledo softball team in Thursday’s first game in the three-game playoff series Thursday night in Stephenville.
Cooper scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the lead for good after the Ladycats had rallied from a 4-0 deficit for a 5-4 lead.
Presley Hull rallied the Ladycats with her 3-run homer in the top of the third that barely cleared the wall in left centerfield. Then in the top of the fifth, Hull hit a double off the wall in centerfield then scored on a wild pitch to give Aledo a 5-4 lead.
However, Cooper rallied right back in the bottom of the inning for three runs. The Cougers got the first two batters on base with a walk and a softly hit ball that went for an infield single. Aledo pitcher Kayleigh Smith almost got out of the inning by getting the next two batters out. However, Cooper then scored two runs on a softly hit fly ball to shallow center that fell two a two-run single. Cooper added another run with a single down the third base line.
While Cooper managed to come up with key hits with runners in scoring position, the Ladycats left runners in scoring position in five of the seven innings.
Aledo scored once in the top of the seventh and had two on and two out when a fielder’s choice out at second ended the game.
Aledo and Cooper will play the second game of the series Friday afternoon and if Aledo wins to force a third game it will be played immediately after the first game Friday.
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