Bullard Panthers Ballpark on Thursday, May 8, 2025 –
After the Alba-Golden Lady Panthers fell by a 7-6 run score in Game 1 of a best-of-three game Texas UIL Semifinal Softball Playoff with the Shelbyville Lady Dragons on Wednesday, The Lady Panthers rebounded and evened the series with a 7-6 Game 2 win of their own on Thursday.
The Lady Panthers loaded the basepaths with two outs in the bottom of the first innings but rallied to go up 3-0 when Jayla Sitar scored on a hit-batter. Then a Lilly Thorn base hit scored two more.
Kylie Snell and Lanie Bass each reached base in the top of the second inning. A Nicole Harvey bunt scored Snell and later Taylor Jones put a ball in play which scored Bass. The Lady Dragons had cut the Panther’s lead to 3-2 runs going into the third inning. An Alexis Wilmut homerun over the centerfield wall helped the lady Panthers extend their lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Carsey Lovell singled to begin the top of the fifth inning and she later scored to pull the Lady Dragons to with a 6-4 score. Snell reached base on a fielder’s choice moments later and she scored on a single by Bass to help SHS pull to within 6-5.
Bass struck out two Panthers batters in the bottom of the fifth inning and a third Panther was called out due to baseline interference. Leaving the game at Panthers 6 Dragons 5 going into the sixth inning. The Lady Dragons were able to tie the game at 6-6 runs when Taylor Jones reached on a bunt and later scored on Lovell single and an error.
The game remained tied at 6-6 runs until Adielyn Smith doubled to rightfield in the bottom of the seventh and later scored on a teammates infield hit which broke the tie and won the game.
Lanie Bass struck out eight, walked three and gave up nine hits pitching for Shelbyville. Adielyn Smith struck out seven, walked three and gave up seven hits for Alba-Golden.
The lady Panthers now stand at 21-9 for the season and the lady Dragons are at 22-11. They faced off at Tyler Legacy High School Friday, for the final Game 3 and the Lady Dragon took a 9-3 win to advance.
