Bulldogs Tree the Cougars, 2-12

The Oakton Cougars visited the Westfield Bulldogs and got beaten by the score of 2-12.  The game was competitive for four innings, and then Westfield broke it open to win via the 10-run rule in the bottom of the fifth inning.  The loss drops the Cougars’ overall record to 5 wins, 12 losses and their conference record to 2 wins, 7 losses.

The Cougars could not start any offensive hunting during the first two innings, as only second baseman Georgia Brandt got on with a single during that stretch.  The Bulldogs, in contrast, put up three runs in the same stretch on four hits and three walks. 

The Cougs finally preyed on their first run in the top of the third inning.  Pitcher Lili Vasquez started things off at the plate by hitting a one-out double to right field.  Center fielder Linda Lyons followed with a single, which also moved Vasquez to third base.  While third baseman Rachel Lee was batting, Lyons started to steal second base, and Westfield tried a short-throw play to their shortstop that was designed to catch Vasquez going home.  But, Vasquez bounded home before the Bulldog shortstop could throw back to their catcher, making the score 1-3.  The score stayed 1-3 through the bottom of the third inning when the Cougars chained the Bulldogs in a three-up, three-down at-bat, which included two nice running catches for outs by right fielder Lindsey Smith.

After keeping the Cougars off the bases in the top of the inning, Westfield barked out three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning using two walks and two singles, aided by Cougar wild pitches and a passed ball.

Oakton answered back with its second run in the top of the fifth inning.  Pinch hitter Jo Jo Felix led off with a line drive single up the middle, and Marissa Sanzone, who had subbed in for Smith, followed with a single to left field.  After a Cougar K, Lyons laid down a bunt single to load the bases with one out.  Lee came up next, and she drove in Felix with an infield grounder, but Sanzone and Lyons were unfortunately left stranded at second and third bases after the next Cougar struck out, and the score stood at 2-6.

The Bulldogs chased the Cougars up a tree to stay in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Westfield plated six runs on six hits and a walk, aided by three Cougar errors, which gave them the 10-run lead needed to end the game.