By Staff
Bad decisions can be tough enough to overcome.
It was the no decisions that proved to be the downfall of the T.R. Miller Lady Tigers softball team Monday, as they dropped a 5-1 decision on their home turf to the Jay (Fla.) Lady Royals.
A three-run sixth inning where T.R. Miller failed to retire a batter on four fielder's choices proved to be its biggest downfall.
"We thought we had a runner out at the plate on one of those, but other times we were too indecisive as to where we wanted to go," T.R. Miller coach Jamie Riggs said. "In a close, low scoring game like that, you can't afford to make many mistakes."
The Lady Tigers (5-4) were also unable to get much done against Jay pitcher Crystal Autry. Autry scattered five hits and allowed T.R. Miller to put its leadoff person on base in just one inning (seventh).
Jay got a two-out single by Stephanie Marraman in the bottom of the first inning, but Lady Tigers' pitcher Rebekah Neal took care of that herself with a two-out, inside-the-park homerun in the bottom of the first inning.
"Rebekah had a great at bat. She fouled off several pitches before she hit the homer. Ironically one pitch before she hit the homer, their catcher dropped a foul ball a few feet away from the plate and she got another chance. Good thing she homered. We really didn't even come close to scoring after that," Riggs said.
Marraman put Jay back on top at 2-1 with an RBI groundout in the top of the third inning.
The critical sixth inning began with a leadoff double by Jessica Ivey. After a groundout, the four fielder's choices with a walk squeezed in between added up to the four runs.
The Lady Tigers host J.U. Blacksher Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
At T.R. Miller
Jay 101 003 0 – 5 6 1
T.R. Miller 100 000 0 – 1 5 1