In a contest that went extra innings, it was Bullard scoring in the top of the eighth to take the first regional finals game in a best-of-three 3-2 at Livingston Thursday.
Fans packed the stands and lined the outfield wall to catch Livingston’s deepest playoff run in their softball history. The Lions fought back from a 2-0 deficit in the second inning, where a hit by pitch, double and passed ball put the Lady Panthers ahead.
The home team answered in the third inning, following a base on balls to Brooklynn Pace, double by Raigen Long, and intentional walk to Corinne Henderson to load the bags. A wild pitch brought Long in to score, cutting the lead in half.
In the fifth, Pace doubled, Henderson was again intentionally walked, and Taylor Wright drew a walk to fill the bases with Lions. With two outs, Ariyanah Cuellar grounded to shortstop, but the throw short-hopped first base. It was bobbled at first, allowing Wright to reach safely and the run to score.
It remained 2-2 until the eighth, when an error placed a Panther on first. Bullard pinch runner Madelyn Murry stole second. A delayed steal put her on third with two outs. Long got Kenzi Roberts to pop up to left field. With a strong wind blowing in, the ball dropped safely into shallow left, just in front of a diving Wright.
Livingston managed just a walk in the bottom half, falling a run short.
Both pitchers were excellent in the circle. Bullard’s Brooklyn Brannen went all eight innings, striking out 10. She allowed two runs, neither earned, and just five hits while walking seven.
Long was also very strong, pitching all eight frames. She allowed just three hits, no walks and struck out eight. Of the three runs Bullard scored, just one was earned. Over the past two games, the sophomore has thrown 15 innings, surrendering just one earned run.
Long produced two of the five Lion hits, with Pace, Henderson and Parrish collecting the others. Henderson walked three times (two intentionally), and Breonna Niederhofer was walked twice.
The series moved to Bullard Friday and, if necessary, will be finished in Lufkin Saturday.
