Bobcats Come Up Empty in Double Header
After two weeks off due to weather, the Bobcats went on the road Tuesday afternoon for a District B double header matchup at Illinois Valley where they dropped both...
Wauwatosa, WI (April 11, 2018) - After two weeks off due to weather, the Bobcats went on the road Tuesday afternoon for a District B double header matchup at Illinois Valley where they dropped both 8-3 in game one and 9-1 in game two.
04/11 - Game 1 vs. Illinois Valley CC (L 8-3)
After a cold and windy two weeks, the Bobcats first game of the day opened up with a scoreless first inning by both teams. With two outs in the top of the second, the Bobcats had two runners in scoring position but were unable to capatlize to get on the board.
The Eagles began the bottom of the inning with a base hit by the lead off batter, Weber. Playing small ball, the Eagles advanced Weber to third after a sac bunt and a fielders choice.
With two outs and a runner on third, the Eagles scored the opening run of the game on a passed ball to put them up 1-0 going into the top of the third.
The hitting struggles continued for the Bobcats in the top of the inning as they went scoreless. Looking to extend their lead, the Eagles tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the third and four in the bottom of the fourth.
Trailing 8-0 going into the fifth, the Bobcats bats finally came alive as they knew they were running out of time to cut the deficit. Brooke Masi (2B) started things off with a single. The Eagles got the next out which brought up Kayla Jaskulski (CF) who stepped into the box with confidence and singled on a ground ball to the Eagles shortstop. Tori Golden (3B) came up next and flew out to right field. With two outs and runners on first and second, Heather Anderson (SS) stepped up to the plate and doubled on a line drive to left field to bring in Masi and put the Bobcats on the board. The Eagles forced the next batter into a ground out to end the inning.
Trailing 8-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the Bobcats shut down the Eagles and moved onto the top of the sixth looking for a late rally.
Bobcats Pitcher, Alex Villalobos, started the inning off for the Bobcats with a single. Meghan Strasser (LF) came up next and grounded out to third but advanced Villalobos to scoring position. Amanda Zane (RF) came up next and struck out.
With two outs in the inning, Masi lined one to center and advanced Villalobos to third. Up next was, Maria Carmona (1B) who singled to right field and brought in two runs.
The score was 8-3 before the Eagles got the final out of the inning and went on to win the game 8-3.
Masi led the way for the Bobcats with three hits and two runs followed by Anderson with two hits and one RBI and Villalobos with two hits and one run.
Villalobos threw six innings with six earned runs and two walks.
04/11 - Game Two vs Illinois Valley CC (L 9-1)
In another scoreless first inning, it was the Eagles who struck first again scoring one run in the bottom of the second and led 1-0 going into the top of the third. Struggling to get hits, the Bobcats were shutdown by the Eagles in the top of the third and continued to trail 1-0.
Staying strong defensively, the Bobcats retaliated in the bottom of the inning holding the Eagles scoreless to start the top of the fourth.
Eager to get their bats alive, Golden started the top of the fourth off for the Bobcats reaching first on an error. Anderson follwed with a single to right field advancing Golden to third base.
With two runners on and no outs, Melissa Biefeld came up to the plate and flew out to right field which allowed Golden to tag and tie the game 1-1.
Although the bats came alive for the Bobcats in the top of the fourth, the Eagles held their own and moved onto the bottom of the inning without anymore damage being done.
In the bottom of the inning, the Eagles responded earning two runs and regained the lead 3-1. Unable to recover, the Bobcats went scoreless the remainder of the game and the Eagles captured their second victory of the double header.
"It was good to get back out there on the field against another opponent and not be stuck inside the gym," Bobcats head coach Troy Engibous said. "We clearly were rusty in some areas today but battled until the final out in both games."
"I was proud of the positivity today and how the girls picked their teammates up."
With roughly two weeks left in the season, the Bobcats will look to put together a stretch of games and end the season on a high note.
