After a tough outing in their season opener, the Diamond Lady Ducks bounced back with a shutout win against the visiting Wimberley Lady Texans last Friday, Feb. 18. Senior pitcher Lindsay O’Dell found her form surrendering just one hit and striking out 13.
It was all defensive softball until the bottom of the fourth inning. Taylor used its half of the fourth and fifth innings to drive in 10 runs to seal the victory.
After a drawing a walk to Mackenize Watson, O’Dell singled in the Taylor half of the first inning. The Lady Ducks would advance no further via a fielder’s choice double play by the Lady Texans.
Taylor threatened with baserunners again in the second inning to no avail to keep the game scoreless. Kayleigh Page and Allison Ortega would both singled before two ground outs ended the inning.
With two outs, O’Dell collected her second hit in the third inning, followed by Alyssa Ortiz reaching base via a hit-by-pitch. A fielder’s choice ended the Lady Ducks’ inning.
Wimberley went down one-two-three in the fourth inning as O’Dell struck out the side.
The Lady Ducks’ offense came alive in the bottom of the fourth inning as they scored five runs. A’ja Lucas led off with a walk. Ortega then singled, followed by Natalie Alderete reaching via a hit-by-pitch.
Kennan Nunamaker then stepped up with one out and the bases jammed. A hard ground ball up the middle cleared the pads giving the Lady Ducks a 3-0 lead with Kennan Nunamaker holding at first.
An error pushed Kennan Nunamaker to second base. She was then replaced by pinch runner Kayshawna Fields. Watson then reached base on a bunt attempt that moved Fields to third. Field would eventually score when O’Dell grounded out to the Wimberley shortstop to give Taylor a 4-0 advantage.
Ortiz then stepped up and doubled to center field to drive in Watson for the Lady Ducks’ fifth run of the inning. Lucas bookended the inning with her second at-bat only to go down on strikes.
The Lady Texans would halt the no-hitter in the top of the fifth inning when Katie Schroeder singled to center but not advance beyond first base.
The Lady Ducks bats were rattling once again in their half of the fifth. After back-to-back walks to Ortega and Camryn Nunamaker, Alderete grounded into a fielder’s choice. Watson would then single in Camryn Nunamaker to give the Lady Ducks a 6-0 lead.
O’Dell then stepped up and notched her third hit of the game to load the bases. Ortiz then singled bringing home Watson and Alderete and push the Taylor lead to 8-0. Page’s double would bring the Taylor total to 10-0 with the ten-run rule ending the contest.
O’Dell and Page both finished 3-for-4 at the plate, and Alyssa Ortiz led with three RBIs. Taylor tallied 10 runs on 13 team hits.
The Lady Ducks are now 1-1 this season and were back at home this past Tuesday, Feb. 20 to host 6A Round Rock-Westwood.
