HUTTO — The Hutto Lady Hippos varsity softball team split its district matchups this week, falling to Cedar Ridge, 7-6, on Friday, March 14, before run-ruling Vandegrift 16-1 on Monday, March 17.
vs. Cedar Ridge
Hutto came up just short against Cedar Ridge, surrendering four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Lady Hippos’ three-game winning streak came to an end.
Both teams were scoreless through the first two innings before Hutto broke the tie in the top of the third. Freshman Kaelyn Price delivered an RBI triple, followed by an RBI single from senior Mia Sanchez to put the Lady Hippos ahead 2-0.
Cedar Ridge responded with an RBI double, cutting the deficit to 2-1 heading into the fourth.
Hutto gained a tworun lead in the fourth, scoring on an error to make it 3-1. The Raiders answered with a home run and an RBI single, tying the game at 3-3. The Lady Hippos pulled ahead once again in the fifth when senior Riley DeRoulac’s basesclearing double made it 6-3.
After a scoreless sixth inning, Cedar Ridge mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, plating four runs, capped off by a walkoff RBI single to secure the 7-6 victory. vs. Vandegrift
The Lady Hippos bounced back in dominant fashion against Vandegrift, securing a 16-1 run-rule victory in four innings.
Hutto struck early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Junior Sophie McElyea ripped an RBI triple, M’Kayla Hicks added a sacrifice fly, and freshman Bailey Kelley followed with an RBI double to make it 3-0.
McElyea led the offense, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs.
Vandegrift managed its lone run in the top of the second on an RBI double, but Hutto quickly responded in the bottom half with two more runs, courtesy of an RBI single from McElyea and a Vipers error, extending the lead to 5-1.
The Lady Hippos blew the game open in the third inning, plating eight runs. Hicks highlighted the inning with a three-run home run, finishing the night with four RBIs.
Kelley earned the win in the circle, allowing one run over three innings.
Hutto put the game away in the fourth, scoring twice on RBI singles from McElyea and senior Makenzie Klos before sealing the 16-1 win on a Vandegrift throwing error.
The Lady Hippos improved to 4-9 overall and 4-3 in district play. Hutto returned to action against Vista Ridge on Tuesday, March 18, before traveling to Stony Point on Tuesday, March 25, at 7 p.m.
