ABILENE – After opening their Region I-3A softball bi-district playoff series with a 6-4 win over Henrietta Friday night, the Early Lady Horns suffered a pair of shutout losses Saturday as their season came to an end.
The District 8-3A runner-up Lady Horns (23-8) dropped a 10-0 decision to District 7-3A third seed Henrietta (21-8) in Game 2 Saturday – the first game of the doubleheader.
The Lady Horns were limited to one hit which came from Grace LaRue to start the third inning. Early was the victim of 15 strikeouts by Kailey Barnard
Early pitchers Lopez and LaRue combined to yield three earned runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts and six walks, while the Lady Horn defense committed five errors;
Henrietta scored once in the first inning, added three runs in the second, five in the third and its last run in the bottom of the sixth.
More the same followed for the Early offense in the 8-0 loss in the series finale as the Lady Horns were again limited to one hit with 10 strikeouts.
Torrez picked up the lone hit for the Lady Horns with one in the fourth inning. Gabby Leal walked twice while Lopez and LaRue also drew a free pass for Early.
Meanwhile, Henrietta tallied single runs in the first, second, and third innings, then tacked on three more in the top of the fifth inning to break open the contest. Early yielded two additional runs in the sixth inning.
In the circle, Lopez and LaRue surrendered five earned runs on 13 hits with four strikeouts and four walks. The Lady Horns were also plagued by five errors.
Henrietta will move on to face District 5-3A champion Coahoma.