It is the deepest Livingston softball has ever progressed in the playoff brackets. The Lions swept a doubleheader Friday at Klein Oak High School over Bellville to advance to the regional finals in dramatic fashion, 15-12 and 4-0.
The day will likely be remembered as one of the best all-time performances by a Livingston athlete and team. The Lions were down a game after dropping the series opener Thursday.
Bellville had slugged four homers Thursday in a comfortable 11-3 victory. They also pulled in front in Game 2 with another solo home run to go up 1-0 in the top of the first inning.
Livingston answered in the bottom half of the first on a two-RBI double from Taylor Wright.
Yet, it was the second inning that decided the game. The Lions scored 13 runs, led by Raigen Long, who hit two home runs in the same inning. Every player in the lineup scored a run in the second. Livingston plated eight before an out was recorded. By the end of the inning, the score was 15-1.
Bellville did make it competitive. The Brahmanettes have a potent offense that was again on display, scoring two in the third, eight in the fifth, and one in the seventh. They swatted three over the fence, making it seven round-trippers in just two games.
Brooke Anderson started in the circle for Livingston, tossing 4.2 innings and surrendering 11 runs, eight of them earned. She struck out four and walked four, allowing seven hits. Breonna Niederhofer came on in relief, yielding just one unearned run in 2.1 innings.
The Lions had a dozen hits, led by Long with three, and Alexyis Richardson, Niederhofer, and Isabelle Parrish with two. Long had five RBIs, while Wright and Ariyanah Cuellar had two.
In the deciding Game 3, Long got the start in the circle. She had also thrown Thursday, allowing seven runs in 4.2 innings, but Friday would be different.
The sophomore hurled a no-hitter to down the powerful Brahmanettes, striking out 11 and walking only three. The defense behind her was also strong, committing no errors.
Corrine Henderson was the game’s star on offense, going 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. She accounted for half of the Lions’ hits and runs.
The wins were the 100th and 101st for Coach Heather Mosser. Her team will now advance to a best-of-three series versus Bullard in the regional finals.
