BOWIE, TX – Bowie unloaded the lumber in the first game of a Class 6A Region IV quarterfinal softball series against District 26-6A rival Lake Travis.
The Bulldogs scored 11 runs on 14 hits, five for extra bases, in an 11-1 win shortened to five innings by the run rule Thursday at Westlake High School. The teams resumed the best-of-three Friday at Westlake. If necessary, a third game will take place Saturday at Westlake.
Bowie went down in order in the first, then collected five hits and three runs in the second to take a 3-1 lead. The Bulldogs never looked back.
“We started a bit slow but really got our bats working in the second inning,” coach Liz Wissel said.
Emma Solis had a slow start on the mound for Bowie (26-9) before settling in against a potent Lake Travis lineup. Solis walked three and allowed a run on a single by Tori Williams as the Cavaliers (23-14-1) took 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
“I wasn’t really worried,” said Solis, who allowed just three hits while striking out nine in five innings. “I had to find what was working for me, and (they) have a great offensive team, up and down the lineup. Everyone really hits the ball well.”
Solis did her part at the plate with three hits and an RBI, and courtesy runner Lauren Youngblood scored twice while running for her.
Bowie scored in the second on back-to-back doubles by Jada Scott and Olivia Moreno. Solis drove in Moreno, and Youngblood scored on a single by Cassidy McLean.
“When we started collecting solid hits, it just fuels our offense,” Solis said. “We can score a lot of runs.”
Bowie upped its offensive intensity in the bottom of the fourth inning. Solis singled, and after a bunt, Youngblood scored for Solis when McLean doubled. McLean scored on a monstrous two-run homer over the center field wall by Abbey Smith, who had three this in the game.
Bowie kept on scoring as Laine Smith singled, Alex Vick walked, Morena walked and freshman Anya German scorched a line drive over the left field wall for a grand slam that pushed the lead to 10-1.
The Bulldogs closed out the game with two outs in the bottom of the fifth when Vick singled and came around to score her team’s 11th run on a double by Scott.
Solis and Abbey Smith led Bowie with three hits each. Scott had two doubles, and McLean had two hits. Abbey Smith and German both homered, and German’s four RBIs leading the Bulldogs.
The winner of the series will play either Los Fresnos or Weslaco in the regional semifinals.
