Cleburne drops fourth straight in 10-7 loss to Crowley

March 21--CLEBURNE -- The Cleburne Lady Jackets had a tough and frustrating 10-7 loss to Crowley on Friday.

It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Lady Jackets, who fell to 3-4 in District 8-4A play, while Crowley improved to 3-3.

The Lady Jackets jumped out to a 5-0 lead after plating five runs in the bottom of the second inning.

Shelbi Ritchey led the frame off with a walk and advanced to second base on a Savannah Milne sacrifice bunt. Cassidy Wright singled to put runners on first and third with one out.

Jadyn Luna then reached base on an infield fielder's choice as Crowley tried to throw Ritchey out at home, but she was called safe to put Cleburne on top, 1-0.

Leadoff batter Jacky Torres then put Cleburne on top, 3-0, with a two-run triple. Mackenzie Kirkpatrick then reached base on an error by Crowley's third baseman, and Torres came in to score, which put Cleburne on top 5-0.

After Crowley responded with three runs in the top of the third inning on a three-run home run by Daniella Chavez, the Lady Jackets added one more run in the third inning. Ritchey led the inning off with another walk and Wright then drove her in on a fielder's choice to put Cleburne up 6-3.

After the third inning, however, Cleburne's offense was shut down by Crowley'sCaylee Russell, who sat the Lady Jackets down in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

Over that span, Crowley scored two runs in the fifth and two runs in the sixth to take a 7-6 lead heading into the seventh inning.

The game-tying run came on a controversial balk call with Chavez at bat and runners on second and third with one out. Chavez then drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single, scoring Faye Ramos.

The Lady Eagles then tacked on three insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 10-6 lead.

After Torres led the inning off with a fly out, Rachel Brooks and Kirkpatrick drew back-to-back walks and Alli Suitt singled to load the bases with one out.

Cailyn Fenn then hit what was originally a two-RBI single past the shortstop, which scored Brooks and Kirkpatrick to bring the Lady Jackets to within 10-8 with runners on second and first with no outs.

But following a discussion between the Crowley head coach and the umpires, and then a 10-minute delay as the umpires sorted things out, one run was taken off the board and an out was assigned to Cleburne as the umpires ruled runner's interference on Kirkpatrick, claiming she made contact with and impeded the shortstop's ability to make a play on the ball.

Ritchey then grounded out to end the game.

Kirkpatrick got the start in the circle for Cleburne as she pitched 4 1/3 innings and recorded three strikeouts while allowing three walks, seven hits and five earned runs.

Luna pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing six hits, three unearned runs and two earned runs.

Torres was 1-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Suitt went 3-for-4 with three singles and an RBI.

The Lady Jackets (13-8) look to snap their four-game losing skid at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday when they host Everman to begin the second round of league action.

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