MOBILE, Alabama – The Bobcats (29-7) took the series from the Jaguars (17-14-1) behind a historic night that saw Sara Vanderford become the all-time career leader in RBI’s for the Bobcats.
Unlike yesterday’s game Bobcats wasted no time putting runs on the board. Hannah Earls was walked to start the game and Ciara Trahan reached on a fielding error to give the Bobcats two base runners. After a Piper Randolph walk, Anna Jones would reach on a fielder’s choice that saw Earls called out for the force out at home. Sara Vanderford would then single to right field and bring in Trahan and Randolph. Vanderford would advance to second base on the throw and she became the all-time career RBI leader for the Bobcats with the hit. Emilee Baker would strikeout and JJ Smith flied out to end the inning. The Bobcats held the Jaguars scoreless in the bottom half of the first inning and they led 2-0 after one inning of play.
The Bobcats would keep on rolling in the top of the second inning. Karmyn Bass got a lead off single and Kamden Hutton would move her to second base with a sacrifice bunt. After an Earls line out, Trahan would single to center field to bring home Bass. Trahan would steal second base and then Randolph brought her in with an RBI single. Randolph would be caught attempting to steal second base to end the inning. This is the first time Randolph was caught on an attempt to steal a base. The Bobcats would once again hold the Jaguars scoreless in the bottom portion of the inning and they led 4-0 after two innings.
The Jaguars would hold the Bobcats scoreless in the top of the third inning and cut into the lead in the bottom half of the inning. After a Marley Mims strikeout, Mackenzie Brasher hit a single back to the pitcher and would advance to second base on a throwing error by the Bobcats. Gabby Stagner would groundout next and then Sasha Willems singled to right field to bring in Brasher. Oliva Branstetter would ground out to end the inning and the Jaguars trailed 4-1 after three innings.
The Bobcats would get the run back in the top of the fourth inning. After a JJ Smith walk and a Bass groundout, Hutton hit a double to center field to drive in Dani Laughlin, who was pinch running for Smith. Earls would foul out and Trahan would fly out to end the top of the inning with the Bobcats up 5-1.
The Jaguars would respond in the bottom half of the inning and cut into the lead once again. Stephanie Gonzalez was walked to start the inning and then Shelby Garrett hit a double into left field that advanced Gonzalez to third base. Bailey Welsh would strikeout next and then Brooklynn Bockhaus would lay a bunt down and make it safely to first while driving in Cordova, who was pinch running for Gonzalez, and advanced Gavin, who was pinch running for Garrett, to third. Sims would hit a sac-fly to center field and drive in Gavin in the process. Jessica Mullins would replace Maddy Azua and would get Brasher to line out in one pitch to end the inning. The Bobcats led 5-3 after four innings.
The Bobcats quickly responded to the Jaguars two runs and put up two runs of their own in the top of the fifth inning. After a Randolph fly out, Anna Jones hit a single to give the Bobcats their first base runner of the inning. Vanderford then hit a 2-run homerun to push the lead back to four runs. After an Emilee Baker fly out, a Smith single, and a Bass walk, Hutton would pop up to end the inning. The Bobcats would hold the Jaguars scoreless in the bottom half of the inning and led 7-3 after five innings of play.
After a scoreless sixth inning for both teams, the Bobcats would extend their lead some more in the top of the seventh inning. Smith singled to get things going for the Bobcats. Bass would fly out and then Hutton and Earls were walked to load the bases. Next, Trahan singled and drove in Smith and Hutton while moving Earls to second base. Syndey Harvey, who was in for Randolph as she was hurt making a diving catch earlier in the game, was then walked to load the bases once again. A wild pitch would allow Earls to score and moved Trahan to third and Harvey to second. After a Jones line out, Vanderford would hit her second home run of the game, this time a three-run home run. Hailey Vance would strikeout to end the inning and the Bobcats pushed their lead to ten. This would prove to be the final score as the Bobcats held the Jaguars scoreless in the bottom of the seventh and they picked up the win 13-3 behind a historic night from Vanderford.
With the win the Bobcats took the series, and the two teams will play the series finale tomorrow at 1pm (CT). The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (Subscription required).
Game Notes:
•Maddy Azua improved to 6-3 on the season and finished with 4 strikeouts, 6 hits allowed, and 3 earned runs in 3.2 innings pitched.
•Jessica Mullins entered the game in the 4th inning and finished with 2 strikeouts, 1 hit allowed, and 0 earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched.
•Sara Vanderford had 3 hits (2 home runs) and 7 RBI’s, Ciara Trahan had 3 hits and 3 RBI’s, JJ Smith had 2 hits, Piper Randolph and Kamden Hutton each had 1 hit and 1 RBI, while Anna Jones and Karmyn Bass each had 1 hit.
•Sara Vanderford (171) became the all-time career leader in RBI’s for the Bobcats as she moved past Ariel Ortiz (164) with 7 RBI’s today.
•Vanderford moved closer to Ariel Ortiz in another category as well as she hit career home runs 35 and 36 today, putting her 3 shy of Ortiz’s record of 39.
•The Bobcats improved to 25-0 in games where they score 3 or more runs and 24-2 in games where they score first this season.
Our cover photo for this article is used courtesy of Peter Vives and you can follow him on Instagram by clicking here. Thank you, Pete!
Bobcats Insider 
Leave a comment