MARSHALL, Texas -- Mount Vernon put up 7 runs in the second inning and run-ruled Hughes Springs, 11-0, in Game 1 of a Class 3A regional finals series at East Texas Baptist University's Taylor Field on Thursday.
The game ended with an out in the bottom of the fifth frame. Game 2 is at Taylor Field at 3 p.m. on Saturday witih a Game 3, if needed, to follow Game 2.
Alexa Taylor earned the win in the circle, tossed 5 innings, gave up a run and 3 hits, struck one out and induced 11 flyouts.
Sophomore starting pitcher Maggie Pate took the loss, threw 2 innings, gave up 9 runs on 9 hits, struck out one and walked one. The Lady Mustangs had four errors behind her.
Cali Freeman singled with 2 outs in the fifth for the Mustangs, but Hughes Springs failed to score any runs. The Lady Tigers had 2 singles and a double in the fifth and the winning run crossed on Carsyn Sparks' blooper single over the shortstop's head.
Hughes Springs went down in order in the first frame, while Mount Vernon plated 2 runs on 2 hits.
Riley Lowery singled up the middle with 2 outs in the second for the Mustangs. Madison Heller reached on an error to give Hughes Springs a chance. The Tigers' pitcher induced a flyout to get out of the mini jam.
Lauren Newsome and Madalyn Wardrup hit consecutive home runs to give Mount Vernon a 4-0 edge in the second frame. The Tigers scored five more runs on five hits to take a 9-0 lead into the third.
Cali Freeman singled up the middle on a ball that bounced off the pitcher's glove for the Mustangs in the third. Freeman moved up to second on a passed ball, stole third and scored on an error to give Hughes Springs its first run, 9-1.