Softball: Bullard takes Game 1 against Lady Bears

Published 12:41 am Thursday, May 9, 2024

LUFKIN — Emery Baker and Brooklyn Brannen hit home runs as the Bullard Lady Panthers rallied from an early four-run deficit to score a 10-4 victory over Little Cypress-Mauriceville on Wednesday in Game 1 of a Class 4A best-of-three regional quarterfinals softball series.

Bullard (30-7-1) and the Lady Bears (28-10) will continue their series on Friday back in Lufkin. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. If a third game is needed, it is scheduled to begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.

The Lady Bears from Orange took a 4-0 first-inning lead before the Lady Panthers started their comeback. Bullard scored the next 10 runs — six in the fifth and two each in the sixth and seventh innings.

With the offense getting on track, pitcher Anistyn Foster, who came into the circle in the second inning, shut down LCM in the final 5.2 innings, allowing three hits and non runs with five strikeouts and one walk.

Kristen Malone and Dakota Payne added doubles for Bullard.

Malone, Brannen and Payne each had two hits. Adding singles were Mattison Nix, Baylie Walker, Kenzi Roberts and Denim Boles.

Knocking in runs were Malone (3), Brannen (3), Baker (2) and Payne (1).

Scoring runs were Malone (2), Baker (2), Payne (2), Brannen (1), Roberts (1), Zaylee Zahirniak (1) and Secilia Salzmann (1).

Lexis Moss hit a homer for the Lady Bears.

The winner of the series advances to the Region III semifinals against either Robinson or Burnett next week.