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Bayler Boatman (7) prepares to take a swing at a pitch during recent road action. Boatman batted a perfect 5/5 in the Lady Wildcats' 17-8 win over North Lamar Saturday, adding four RBIs and scoring two runs. Photo by DJ Spencer
Boatman goes 5/5 from plate
PARIS — The Sulphur Springs Lady Wildcats picked up their fourth consecutive win Saturday by taking down the North Lamar Pantherettes 17-8 on the road. After the first three innings were closely contested, the Lady Wildcats broke the game open in fourth inning and never looked back, leading to a big win.
The Lady Wildcats got on the board first when Nicole Higgins scored a run in the top of the first inning, leading 1-0. The Pantherettes would add a run of their own in the bottom of the first inning, tying the score at 1-1.
After a scoreless second inning, the Lady Wildcats put up three runs in the top of the third inning. Higgins, Hannah Speed, and Bayler Boatman all scored, as the Lady Wildcats pulled ahead 4-1.
The Pantherettes would respond with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning, tying the score again at 4-4.
In the fourth inning, the Lady Wildcats would add four runs. Higgins started the scoring with a two-run inside-the-park home run, where Emerson Thompson also scored, to raise the score to 6-4.
Later on, Reese Ragan launched a two-run home run, where Speed also scored, to extend their lead to 8-4.
Following a scoreless fifth inning, the Lady Wildcats added five more runs in the top of the sixth inning. Emerson Thompson, Higgins, Brailie Blevins, Claire Thompson, and Abbey Goldsmith all scored, as the Lady Wildcats increased their lead to 13-4. The Pantherettes added one run in the bottom of the sixth inning, cutting the score to 13-5.
The Lady Wildcats would score four more runs in the top of the seventh inning. Higgins, Speed, Boatman, and Claire Thompson all scored, as Sulphur Springs extended their lead to 175.
Though the Pantherettes tried to rally back with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, it was too little, too late, as the Lady Wildcats capped off a 17-8 victory.
As a team, the Lady Wildcats batted 22 for 41 (.537) from the plate. Boatman led the way, going a perfect 5/5.
Four Lady Wildcats would record three hits each: Higgins, KK Montgomery, Speed, and Claire Thompson. Ragan and Emerson Thompson came up with two hits, and Goldsmith added one hit each.
Higgins would finish as the leading scorer with five runs. Not far behind was Speed with three runs. Boatman, Claire Thompson, and Emerson Thompson scored two runs each, while Blevins, Goldsmith, and Ragan added one run each.
Speed picked up the win in the circle. Across 1 2/3 innings, she struck out three batters, conceding only one hit and one run. Goldsmith pitched the final 5 1/3 innings in relief, striking out five batters and conceding only seven hits, seven runs (four earned), and two walks.
With the win, the Lady Wildcats are now 3-0 in district and 11-7-2 overall. They resumed action Tuesday, welcoming the Pleasant Grove Lady Hawks to Ladycat Park.