by RAFAEL MARQUEZ
Lockhart held the Lady Lobos softball team runless, 7-0, Friday during senior night.
The first play of the game involved a poor throw to first that went way over first baseman Lauren Pizzini’s head. A few plays later, still in the top of the first, two Lehman players went after the same fly ball but neither of them appeared to have called it. Both players collided and the ball landed between them. Lockhart scored two runs during their first at bat.
Lehman did respond by loading the bases, thanks to a hits by outgoing senior Jess Gonzalez and by Clarissa Rayos. Lauren Pizzini followed to base aftering getting hit by a pitch. Still Lehman was unable to convert a run, despite loaded bases.
The Lady Lobos defense picked up their play considerably starting with the second inning and held Lockhart to 0 runs for several innings. Pizzini was a wall at first base by not only catching every single ball thrown to her but also hustling to catch fly balls that went near first.
Very fast innings with either four or five batters coming up to bat and both teams leaving runners on base followed – until the critical 6th inning.
At the top of the 6th inning, Lockhart scored three runs. Lehman head coach replaced sophomore Angel Cruz at the mound with sophomore Erin Mendoza when the score stood at Lockhart 5, Lehman 0. Lockhart had the bases loaded and two outs on the board.
The first batter that Lehman’s Mendoza faced hit a hard line drive that bounced out of the third baseman’s glove and went into no man’s land between third and left field. Lockhart scored two more runs to bring the score to 7-0.
Lehman was unable to produce any runs during their turn at bat at the bottom of the sixth inning.
Lehman’s Mendoza made quick work of the Lockhart batters during the top of the seventh inning, bringing a fired up Lehman team to bat. Unfortunately, the game ended with the Lobos not being able to score.
