Lady Bulldogs' season ends

Empire’s softball season came to an end at the district tournament in Carnegie last Thursday.

The Lady Bulldogs suffered a heartbreaking loss to the host team in the game. Empire led 3-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning when the Lady Wildcats scored four runs, including a bases-clearing triple, to take a 6-3 win.

It was the first run Empire had allowed since the first inning.

Empire had scored one run in the first, one in the third and one in the fourth to take the lead. They also outhit Carnegie 9-8 in the game. Chanlie Rochell and Halli Hayes each had two hits in the game to lead the Lady Bulldogs at the plate. Kylie Lemons, Lanie Johnson and Chazli Massey each had one hit with Lemons getting a double and Massey had an RBI.

Natalie Williams took the loss on the mound, giving up five earned runs on eight hits. She struck out two and walked five.

In game two, it was Empire’s turn to try to make a comeback, but they would fall just short in a 4-3 loss to Sterling. 

Sterling had led the entire game and held a 4-1 lead going into the top of the seventh, where Empire would make things interesting.  First, Sarah Vanderburg singled home Rochell and then an out later, Johnson singled on a line drive to right field to score Vanderburg. That would be as close as the Lady Bulldogs would get, however, as Sterling recorded a strikeout for the last out.

Empire outhit Sterling, 10-7. 

Massey was a perfect 3-for-3 with a triple at the plate to lead the Lady Bulldogs. Vanderburg was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Rochell, Lemons, Haynes, Johnson and Autumn Powers each had a hit. 

Williams took the loss on the mound, giving up four earned runs on seven hits. She struck out one and walked two.

Empire ended their season with a 12-14 record.