With a chance at the ending the season as league champions with two wins in the last two scheduled regular season games, the Bruin girls varsity softball team hosted the South Umpqua Lady Lancers for a season ending double-header Wednesday afternoon.
First pitch from the Bruin girls came from Maddy Taylor #22 at 3:00pm, and Taylor started the first inning retiring the side in four batters. Lady Lancer pitching returned the favor, retiring the Bruin girls in order on a ground-out, a pop-out and strike-out to send the game tied into the second inning.
The Bruin girls defense was solid in the second, but a walk, a double and a Brookings error would allow 1 run to score for the Lady Lancers after a two out rally. The Bruin girls came out in their half of the second and got their lead-off on base after a Maddy Taylor single, but three consecutive strike-outs would end the Bruin girls threat.
South Umpqua would continue to add runs while holding the Bruin girls scoreless, taking a 0-7 lead into the bottom of the seventh, before the Bruin girls would get senior Charlie Nolte on the basepaths after being hit by a pitch, and a Brynn Hodges double would score the Bruin girls only run in the first game, giving the Lady Lancers the 1-7 win.
Senior Jordan Crosby, #11, was in the circle for coach Tony Baron in the second game of the afternoon, and the Lady Lancers would manage 1 run in the top of the first to take an early lead. The Bruin girls would counter scoring twice in the first off of two singles and a sacrifice bunt, giving the Bruin their first lead in the series 2-1.
Crosby and the Bruin girls defense would hold the Lady Lancers scoreless in the second inning, retiring the side after facing four batters. But the Bruin girls would fail to capitalize in their half of the second after getting their lead-off and their next batter on the basepaths with no outs.
The Lady Lancers would apply pressure in the top of the third, starting a 10 run inning after getting the lead-off on and putting together 2 walks, 5 singles, a double and a 3 run homer to take an 8 run lead after three innings.
Trailing 2-11, the Bruin girls would rally with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, stringing together three singles to score 2 runs and close the gap to 7 runs, and a 4-11 Lady Lancer lead.
In the top of the sixth, South Umpqua would put the game out of reach, adding 9 runs off of four walks, three singles, a double, a triple and two Bruin girls errors, making the final score 9-22 after the Bruin girls scored 5 runs to end the game.
The Bruin girls would finish in second place in league play behind the undefeated South Umpqua Lady Lancers, and are scheduled to start post-season play next Wednesday afternoon.
