The Guthrie Lady Jays Softball team had the situation they wanted in the sixth inning, but were unable to push a run across the plate in the season opener against Harrah Tuesday evening.
Guthrie dropped the opening game of the 2011 season to Harrah, 3-1, in front of a packed home crowd. The game was also the first for new head coach Lee Linsenmeyer.
View photo gallery.
Trailing 3-1 in the sixth, Madison Sutton was hit by a pitch and advanced to third when Bailey Shaffer collected her second hit of the night with a single to right field. McKale Hopfer loaded the bases when she was walked, but Harrah escaped by collecting two strike outs and a ground out.
The Panthers jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Lady Jays came to bat, but Guthrie got the season going quickly in the first inning. However, they struggled at times putting the ball in play with 15 strike outs as a team.
The Lady Jays lead off hitter, Shaffer, got things going with a single and immediately came home when Hopfer drilled a double to right centerfield for the RBI for the lone run of the night.
Guthrie catcher Amanda Simpson added a bases empty double in the second inning.
Harrah got an insurance run in the top of the sixth, but for the most part of the night the right-handed pitcher Shaffer kept the Panthers off-balance. Shaffer piled up eight strike outs while not allowing an earned run in the loss in the circle.
The Lady Jays will now turn around and prepare for the Cushing Tournament that begins Thursday and goes through Saturday.
Be the first to comment on "Softball drops season opener at home"