The Coogs travelled to Lake Belton to take on the Royse City Bulldogs in their round three matchup which was a one game winner take all series last Friday where they came out on top in a 12-10 back and forth slugout.
The girls were the home team and got out to a hot start, as Regina Amaya would fan five batters in the first two innings only allowing one baserunner and the offense scored in the first inning then put up four runs in the second, getting out to a quick 5-0 start. However, the game took a turn in the third.
Royse City’s offense exploded for seven runs and quickly flipped the mood of the game, however the offense answered back with a run of their own. Typically allowing more than five runs in an inning would have a pitcher pulled, but the bats were hot and Coach Thompson kept utmost confidence in her District 15-6A pitcher of the year.
“I can be so much more confident and focus on doing my best knowing I have that kind of belief and support from everybody and knowing my teammates will have my back no matter what,” Amaya said.
Have her back they did, as the Coogs kept their offensive surge going, scoring in every inning of the game including two runs to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth and three to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Four of the five late runs were driven in by leadoff hitter Aubrey Murillo, as she came up clutch with a 2-run inside-the-park homer and a 2-run triple.
“I knew my team needed me to come up big in my late at bats and I was just trying to get the bat and the ball and do whatever I could to help my team,” Murillo said.
The girls played arguably their best game of the year in their biggest game yet and will be looking to recapture that success as they take another road trip this Friday to Georgetown HS to take on the Forney Jackrabbits in the Regional Finals, a spot in the State Tournament awaiting the winner of the one game series.
Key Players
#13 SS Aubrey Murillo: 3-4 (HR, Triple), 5 RBIs, Walk, SB, 3 Rs
#3 P Regina Amaya: 7.0 IP, 6 ER, 10 Ks
#18 LF Brileigh Taylor: 3-4 (Double), 2 RBIs, 2 Rs
#17 CF Fabi Marcano: 2-4, 2 Rs, SB, 4 outs made
