Forsan Lady Buffalos complete two game sweep of the Clarendon Broncos to move on in playoffs
The Forsan Lady Buffalos took on Clarendon Broncos Thursday night in Littlefield. Forsan defeated Clarendon in back-to-back games to advance in the playoffs. It was a tremendous accomplishment by a squad that has been dominant all season long.
Game one started at 5 p.m.; the Lady Buffs were the visiting team for the series opener, so they batted first. Lead of batter Emma Buske reached base on an error by the Clarendon first baseman. The error allowed Buske to make it to third base. After a strikeout by Hailey Beall, K'leigh Williams blasted a single to right field to drive home Buske for the first run of the game. Forsan did little after the run scored, ending the top of the first with a 1-0 lead. Reagan Phillips took the circle for the Lady Buffs. Phillips had a great first inning of work as she could get out of the inning on only seven pitches.
Leading 1 to 0, Forsan came back up to the plate looking to add to their lead. Lindsey Morin leads the inning with a walk. Liberty Rodriquez grounded out to the second base. The ground out did advance Rodriquez to second base. Morin then moved to third base on a passed ball by the Clarendon catcher. Morin kept up the great base running when she then took home on another passed ball to give Forsan a 2 to 0 lead after the top of the first. The bottom of the second was the only inning Clarendon could get any rhythm against the Buffalo pitcher. They scored two runs in the inning to tie up the game.
The top of the third is when the Lady Buffs put a stamp on this game. They scored 15 runs in the inning. It all started with a double by Hailey Beall. K'leigh Williams then drove her in with a single, breaking the tie and giving the Buffalos the lead at 3 to 2. Aubrie Smith then drove home another run on an error that was charged to the Clarendon left fielder. Now leading 4 to 2, Reagan Phillips took part in the action with a single that drove home a run extending the lead to 5 to 2. Kelcey Zubiate took a walk. Lindsey Morin then had a single to drive home a run making this a 6 to 2 game. Next up was Lybertee Rodriquez, who smashed a single to drive home another run in the inning. After scoring the fifth run of the inning and now leading 7 to 2, the Buffs were not done. After an out, Emma Buske took a walk. Hailey Beall had a sacrifice fly to center field that scored another run making this an 8 to 2 game. Keith Williams scored a run on a ground ball error charged to the Bronco second baseman. With a 9 to 2 lead, Reagan Phillips drove home two runs on a single to center field, increasing the lead to 11 to 2. Kelcey Zubiate kept the train moving with a double to center field drove home two more runs. A 13 to 2 lead, Lindsey Morin stepped to the plate and delivered a double, scoring yet another run. Leading 14 to 2 now, Lybertee Rodriquez earned herself a walk. Hannah Williams doubled to left field, scoring a run making this a 15 to 2 game. Emma Buske then singled on a ball to left field, sending another run across the plate, making this a 16 to 2 game. The Big inning for the Forsan Lady Buffs ended when Hannah Williams scored on an error to make this a 17 to 2 game. After the dust had settled, Forsan had scored 15 runs in the top of the third inning, making this a complete blowout. Regan Phillips came back out for her third inning of work for the Lady Buffs. She shut down the Broncos bats to get out of the Third inning with a mammoth 17 to 2 lead.
After a 15 run inning the previous inning, the Forsan bats took it easy on Clarendon in the top of the fourth. Only scoring two runs this inning. Hailey Beall reached base on a dropped third strike. Aubrie Smith then had a perfect bunt single to reach base. Beall and Smith would both come around to score on errors committed by the Clarendon defense. Making this a 19 to 2 game. With a comfortable 17 run lead, the Lady Buffs brought in pitcher Maegan Garza to finish this game. That completed Reagan Phillips day. Phillips went three innings, allowing two runs to score. They earned neither of the runs and only walked one batter. Garza picked up right where Phillips left off, as she could shut down the Bronco bats with ease.
They called the game after the fifth inning giving the Forsan Lady Buffalos a 19 to 2 win. This was a big win highlighted by the fantastic 15 run inning. The win meant the Lady Buffs were only one win away from advancing on in the playoffs.
After the big win in the first game, the Forsan Buffalos didn't have to wait long to get their shot at completing the two-game sweep of the Clarendon Broncos. While this game was closer than game one, the Forsan Buffalos came out victorious with an 11 to 6 victory.
The game remained a scoreless tie heading into the bottom of the third inning. That's when Forsan put up four runs to take a 4 to 0 lead after three innings of play. The lady Buffs put up five runs in the bottom of the fourth, making this a 9 to 0 game. Clarendon tried to battle back in the top of the sixth by scoring three runs cutting the Forsan lead to 3 to 9. The buffs answered right back in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs pushing the lead to 11 to 3. Clarendon did score three more runs in the top of the seventh, but it was too little too late for the Broncos as they fell to the Lady Buffs 11 to 6.
The two-game sweep moves the Lady Buffalos on in the playoffs. The two wins give Forsan a 17-3-1 on the season. This team has been dominant most of this season. This team is playing good ball at the exact right time. The sky is the limit for this playoff run; it will be fun to watch going forward.