Gilmer High softball took on a pair of region opponents and endured two losses.
The GHS Lady Cats were on the road last Monday at Calhoun. Not much separated the teams through six innings, and Gilmer pulled ahead of the Yellow Jackets in the seventh. However, Calhoun rallied as well and overtook the Cats for a 7-6 victory.
Gilmer hosted LaFayette Thursday, and the Ramblers put the error-ridden Cats behind by eight runs after three innings. GHS got some offense going late but it was not enough to catch LHS in an 8-2 loss.
Calhoun and Gilmer matched each other hit for hit with 10 apiece. The Jackets led by one after the first and GHS tied the score in the second. CHS added its second run in the third, and the Cats tied the score at 2-2 in the fifth.
Calhoun plated a run in the fifth and sixth innings to put GHS behind 4-2 with three outs remaining.
Braley Stewart tripled to begin the seventh for GHS, and she strolled home on Phoenix Addie’s base hit to right. Jaylee McDaniel reached base on a fielder’s choice before Brenlee Daniel singled to center and Sarah Dale walked to load the bases.
The Cats took a 6-4 lead when Makayla Martin doubled to left.
Calhoun had an answer in its half. The Jackets strung together four straight hits. Their third single brought them within a run before a two-run single to center ended the game.
Martin had two hits on the day and drove in four runs. Stewart was three for three and had one RBI. In addition to Addie, Daniel and Dale, Lily Fortune and Mary Grace Jones each added a hit.
Stewart got the start and pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed two hits for two earned runs while striking out six and walking one. Fortune took the mound for 1 1/3 innings and gave up five earned runs on eight hits and struck out three.
Gilmer committed five errors at home against LaFayette and only half of the Ramblers’ runs were earned. LHS did not get a hit in the first but a lead-off error eventually scored. Two more errors occurred in the second. LHS added three hits and a sacrifice bunt to open a 5-0 edge.
LaFayette relied on three base hits and also bunted for a hit in the third to lead, 8-0.
Dale walked to start the fifth inning. A one-out single by Mia Henson moved Dale to second, and she scored on Martin’s single to left.
Another walk started the sixth for GHS, and this time Addie drew the free pass to first. McDaniel’s double plated pinch runner Macie Baxter for the Cats’ final run.
Stewart and McDaniel each had two hits on the day and Fortune added another.
GHS pitching: Stewart 3 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 K. Fortune 4 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 2 K, 1 BB.
Gilmer is 6-7 on the season and 2-4 versus region opponents. The Cats will make their way to Harris County Friday and Saturday for four games.