This incredible team hasn't allowed an earned run since February 27.
It may have taken an inning and a third to adjust to pitching, but the Belton Lady Tigers solved the mystery over the next four and a third innings in last nights playoff bout. They connected for 10 runs during that span, as a three-run homer from Sidney Holman and three extra-base hits by Caleigh Robinson, including a solo shot in the fourth inning, carried the Lady Tigers to a 10-0 win six innings over the Rowlett Lady Eagles.
Belton won their 27th consecutive ball game, raised their record to 29-2 and took a 1-0 series lead, with game two in Glen Rose at noon on Saturday.
After both sides were retired in order in the first and Rowlett was retired in order in the second inning, the Lady Tigers struck in their portion of the frame. With one out, Holman walked and was courtesy run for by Sydney Andrews. With two outs on a hit-and-run play, Robinson hit fly ball that drifted into the left field corner and dropped fair. It scored Andrews and Belton took a 1-0 lead.
Holman struck out four batters in the third inning, including one that reached on a dropped third strike.
Belton bounced back and plated four in the third inning. After a fly out, Avery Drake doubled, Destynie Moore reached on an error by second baseman Lindsey Pikulinski and Kaitlyn Jones singled home Drake to make the score 2-0. Bethany Edwards sacrifice bunted Moore and Jones up a base. Holman hit the next pitch 60 feet past the centerfield wall for a three-run homer to give the Lady Tigers a 5-0 and a huge surge of momentum.
Pierson Jones singled to start the fourth inning, the only hit surrendered by Holman. She advanced to second but was stranded there.
On a 1-0 count in the bottom of the fourth, Robinson hit a liner that go no higher than 20 feet high, but cleared the centerfield wall with ease to increase the Belton lead to 6-0.
After Holman retired the side in the fifth and sixth innings, Belton closed the game out with a four-run sixth inning. Robinson doubled and Madison Ward singled to start the inning. With one out Drake hit an opposite field single to load the bases. Moore singled, scoring Robinson. Jones’ fielder’s choice short-hopped Pikulinski and threw a one-hopper that got away from Payton Sobolski, scoring both Ward and Drake to make the score 9-0. Edwards deep fly to left field scored Moore and closed out the game in walk-off, run-rule fashion, 10-0.
Holman struck out 14 batters in the circle for the win through six innings of work and allowed just one hit, while going 1-for-2 with three runs batted in. Ryleigh Jarvis made two put outs in right field, Moore made a catch in center and Jones had a ground ball put out at third base. Robinson had a homer, two doubles, scored two runs and batted in two runs. Drake went 3-of-4, scoring two runs and extending her school single-season hits mark to 60 in 31 games.

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