LAPEL — Freshman Ashlynn Allman provided the spark needed to bring the Bulldogs to life in the regional softball championship game against Tipton, but in the end, it wasn’t enough as the Blue Devils defeated the Bulldogs 7-5 in eight innings Tuesday, May 28, at Lapel.
“Unfortunately it took too long,” coach Scott Rich said. “Last week, when we got punched in the mouth, we came right back, but tonight it took us seven innings to do anything about it.”
Allman’s grand slam home run tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to an extra inning.
However, Lapel was unable to answer in the eighth, when Tipton scored two runs on two hits in the top of the inning.
Tipton had put up four runs on seven hits in the first two innings, and the Bulldogs had no answers. Blue Devils pitcher Claire Norred and the defense held the Bulldogs to two hits throughout the first six innings.
With a 5-0 lead, Tipton seemed destined for the regional title. But when the Bulldogs took their last regulation at bats, the scales began to tip. Chloe Tucker singled to center. Hayley Grangers followed that up with another single to center, and Kylie Rich punched one infield and outran a throw to first.
Addie Bailey singled to center field and scored Tucker.
With the bases loaded, Allman, the leading Bulldog home run hitter, stepped to the plate and knocked the pitch over the fence, scoring four runs to tie the score at five apiece.
In the top of the eighth, two Blue Devil hits and a Bulldog error and passed ball allowed two more runs for Tipton. Tucker’s lone single in the eighth wasn’t enough to save the Lapel effort.
“It’s tough to come back and have it in your grasp and still come up short,” Rich said.
Harnessing and using the emotional energy in game can be tough in the situation.
“It put them in a difficult spot. One swing of the bat, and it’s a tie ball game. Now you have to rein that in, and it’s kind of hard,” Rich said.
The Bulldogs ended their season 16-10 and earned their first sectional title since 2009.