Lady Cards’ postseason run ends with one-game shutout

MARION – The Lady Cards’ varsity softball team changed their Regional Quarterfinal round matchup with Jourdanton from a series to a one-game elimination due to concerns about the weather for the rest of the weekend. With just one chance to move on in the postseason, the stakes during their May 12 matchup elevated to a heightened level. The Lady Cards held the score close during a game that lived up to the intensity of a one-off postseason game, but they never found a way to break into the scoreboard as they were held scoreless in a 3-0 defeat to the Lady Squaws.

Jourdanton built up their lead with a slow burn as both defenses made plays all game in a relatively low-scoring affair. The Lady Squaws never scored more than one run in an inning, but they found scores in the third, fourth and sixth innings to reach their total. Jourdanton made the final statement with their score in the sixth as a Lady Squaw batter knocked out a homer to give Jourdanton a three-run advantage. The Lady Cards threatened in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, but they could not find the big swing to bring runners home and break the shutout.

The Lady Cards had some limitations at the plate as their offense struggled a bit against Jourdanton’s pitching. Mayson Post led the team in hitting for her last game as a senior with two hits in her three at-bats. Molly Garcia and Karlee Mathis added one hit each as those Lady Cards combined for the team’s four total hits. Jourdanton took the advantage in that category with seven hits as a team.

Post and Mathis combined on the mound to give the Lady Cards opportunities to keep the game close and try to decrease the gap on the scoreboard. However, the Lady Squaws did not make anything easy for the defense or pitching staff as they combined for just four strikeouts and picked up four walks as well.

While the loss brings the Lady Cards’ season to an end, they complete the season after having the highest win total in a season in program history and reaching the regional quarterfinals for the third season in a row.