Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Tucumcari softball team suffered a stinging non-district doubleheader loss Saturday at Estancia, with both defeats by one run.
The Lady Rattlers lost the first game 9-8, then dropped the nightcap 18-17 to fall to a 9-10 record overall.
In the first game, the Lady Bears jumped to a 9-2 lead after five innings. The Lady Rattlers scored five runs in the sixth and one in the final inning before the Bears secured the victory.
Tucumcari’s Sierra Valverde drove in a team-high three runs, and Harley McKinney totaled two RBI with a double.
The Lady Rattlers managed just four hits, though they drew eight walks and were hit by three pitches. Tucumcari left seven runners stranded.
Juli Rivera allowed six earned runs in six innings in the loss. She allowed 12 hits, walked two and struck out one.
In the second game, Tucumcari rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh inning for a 17-16 lead.
However, Estancia answered back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning for the comeback victory.
Tucumcari’s Alexus Lafferty went 3-for-5 with a double and four RBI. Valverde drove in three runs with two doubles. McKinney, Tayden Hyslop and Alexis Ramirez each drove in two runs.
Tucumcari committed seven errors, leading to nine unearned runs for starting pitcher Rivera. She walked one and struck out one.
Estancia improved to 17-5 overall.
East Mountain 17, Tucumcari 4
Nine unearned runs spelled doom for Tucumcari during a 17-4 district loss Thursday at East Mountain.
The Lady Rattlers committed eight errors, giving pitcher Rivera a hard-luck loss. She struck out three and allowed 13 hits and three walks.
The Timberwolves scored six runs in the second inning and eight in the third to seize a double-digit lead. The game ended after five innings due to the mercy rule.
Ramirez and Haisley Huffman each went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Lady Rattlers.
Tucumcari was without senior shortstop Lafferty, who didn’t make the trip due to a college visit.
The loss dropped Tucumcari to 9-8 overall and 0-5 in district play.
East Mountain improved to 14-9 overall and 2-6 in district.
Tucumcari 4, Santa Rosa 3
Kylee Carmichael drive in the winning run on a single in the bottom of the last inning for a 4-3 non-district victory last Monday against visiting Santa Rosa.
The Lady Rattlers had held a 3-0 lead through much of the game until the Lady Lions scored three in the top half of the seventh.
Tucumcari’s Amaya Roybal went 3-for-4 at the plate, and Valverde accounted for a key run with an RBI double.
Winning pitcher Rivera allowed six hits, walked none and struck out seven in the complete-game victory.
Tucumcari played errorless ball, while Santa Rosa committed seven errors, leading to two unearned runs.
Santa Rosa fell to 13-5 overall.
It was Senior Night for the Lady Rattlers, where they honored Valverde, Rivera and Lafferty.
Tucumcari is scheduled to have another home game set on April 26, when it will host East Mountain for a district doubleheader that was rescheduled due to bad weather.