McPherson, KS – Lady Tigers took on the Rams of Texas Wesleyan in a four game series. The original dates of the contests had to be moved up a day to avoid upcoming rain in the forecast. The Tigers would play a double header on Wednesday and complete the series with another double header on Thursday.
The Lady Rams would spoil the home stand for the Lady Tigers as they would win all four games including two last inning heroics to keep the Tigers winless in the series.
Game One
Texas Wesleyan would jump out to an early 7-0 lead through 3 innings before the Tigers would respond with 5 runs in the bottom of the 3^rd inning to cut the lead down to 2 runs. The Rams would score 1 run in the 4^th and 5^th to extend their lead to 9-5. The Lady Tigers would respond back with 3 runs in the bottom of the 5^th to cut the lead down to a single run with 2 innings to go. Rams would tack on insurance runs in the 6^th (1)and 7^th (3) to boost their lead and final score to 13-8 as the Tigers fall short in their comeback bid.
Tigers offense would be highlighted by Ashton Nelson (3-4, 1 R, 3B), Altavia Hall (1-3, 2 RBI, 2 Runs, 3B), and Haley Lewis (1-1, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R). Overall the Tigers would have a great game hitting collecting 8 hits, 4 extra base hits (3B, 1HR), .285 avg, with 3 walks and 4 K's.
Tigers Pitching would yield 13 runs (10 earned) on 19 hits, walking 4 and striking out 2 over 7 innings of work. Kayla Voss would pick up the loss on the game.
Game Two
After the offense spree in game one, the script would flip in the 2^nd game as the Tigers and Rams battled on the defensive front.
Tigers would get the early lead in the bottom of the first as they would collect 2 runs and hold this lead all the way up until the top of the 7^th. Hannah Hoffman (game 2 starter) would have an excellent 6 innings pitched prior to the 7^th as she would find herself in jams throughout the duration of the game, but show some resilience in adversity and keep the Rams off the board. With only 3 outs to go the Rams would rally from down 2-0 and score 4 runs on 4 hits and an error to upset the Tigers and take the day series 2-0.
Tigers would be highlighted by Hannah Hoffman who would pitch 7.0 innings, yielding 4 runs (1 earned), on 6 hits, allowed 1 walk and 3 K's.
Game Three
This game would become another classic as the Tigers and Rams battled down to the last pitch. Texas Wesleyan would draw the first blood and score 2 in the 1^st inning then an additional run in the 2^nd to put the Tigers in a 3-0 hole. Tigers would respond with 2 in the 3^rd and the tying run coming in the next inning to get the score back to even at 3-3. Both would have a scoreless 5^th and the Rams would be shutdown in the 6^th, but the Tigers scored a run in the bottom of the inning to once again have the lead going into the 7^th. Disaster would strike for the 2^nd straight game as the Rams would score 2 runs in the top of the inning on 3 hits and 2 errors to retake the lead, which they would hold onto.
Tigers offense would be highlighted by Jessica Aldana (3-4), Ashton Nelson (2-3, R, RBI, BB), and Hannah Hoffman (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI) Overall the Tigers would score 4 runs, on 9 hits, 3 BB, and 6 K's.
Hannah Hoffman would pick up the loss on the game after going 6.1 innings, yielding 5 runs (3 earned), on 9 hits, with 2 BB's.
Game Four
In the closing match the Tigers were anxious to come away with at least one victory from the series. Things would not start out well for the Tigers as the Rams would score 2 runs in the first, but then score 9 in the top of the 2^nd to put the Rams ahead 11-0 over the Tigers. Tigers in danger of being run ruled, dug in and settled down a bit and would go on to score 2 runs in the bottom of the 2^nd, , 3^rd  , and 4^th to take away the run rule threat and dig into the lead at now 11-6. The Tigers would threaten a couple more times, but would only get one more run to cross the plate as the Tigers went down 13-7 and the Rams complete the series sweep.
The Lady Tigers now are in a 10 game skid and drop to 3-11, 2-10 SAC. They will put their focus on a 2 game double header, non-conference series against Ottawa University on March 18^th.
Central Christian Quotes:
"This week we struggled to finish the game. Small mental mistakes hurt us this week. I thought we did a great job hitting during all of our games. We will take this time to regroup and get ready for our games next week with Ottawa and Langston University."
Go Tigers!
#Ambush