The Rockdale County Bulldogs saw their region tournament hopes come to an end Wednesday at Alcovy High School, as the Bulldogs fell 10-2 to Luella after losing their first round contest to Newton High.
Rockdale County recorded seven hits in the game, but the Bulldogs were unable to convert their offense into runs, falling by eight runs in their second game of the Region 2-AAAAAA postseason tournament.
Miasia Mayer led Rockdale County at the plate with a 2-for-2 performance with two singles, while India Davis recorded two hits and scored the Bulldogs’ two runs in the loss.
The Lions Bre Washington earned the victory on the mound, giving up just two runs on seven hits in five complete innings. Washington also recorded seven strikeouts in the win.
“It was a tough loss tonight,” Rockdale County coach Justin Arrington said. “We came out flat again and it’s a tough task to beat Luella when you give them five runs right out of the gate. Luella is a good team and after we settled down, we played really well, but you have to be ready from the start.”
Rockdale opened the game’s scoring with a run in the first inning, scoring India Davis with a Sydney Driver single up the middle. Despite a pair of base hits between their first three batters, the Bulldogs didn’t reach home plate again until the third inning, as Luella scored 10 consecutive runs to answer Rockdale’s early score.
The Lions rallied for five runs in the bottom of the first inning, scoring on three hits in the frame and three walks by Mayer. Luella took the lead on a 2-run Courtney Garrison single to center field. Garrison crossed the plate two batters later on a Rockdale fielding error and the Lions’ Kaylah Groover touched home on a Shelby Godfrey fielder’s choice to give Luella a 4-1 lead.
After holding the Bulldogs scoreless in second inning, the Lions tacked on five more runs, extending their lead to 10-1.
A trio of errors helped the Lions extend their lead, the first allowing Sierra Cornog to score from second on a Garrison single after the Bulldogs bobbled the throw to the plate. Back-to-back singles from Luella’s Lauren Dean and Godfrey extended the Lions advantage to 8-1.
Godfrey scored on what should have been the third out of the inning on the last out of the inning on a Jessica Little ground out, but Rockdale first baseman Kelsey Stewart was unable to hang onto the throw, giving the Lions an 8-run lead. Tiana Vazquez touched home to end the inning on another Rockdale fielding error for the Lions’ final run of the contest.
Davis touched home for the Bulldogs on a Driver fielder’s choice for the 10-2 final.
Mayer took the loss on the mound for the Bulldogs, allowing 10 runs in four innings on nine hits and three walks.
Driver finished with two RBIs for the Bulldogs.
Cornog and Garrison finished with a pair of hits apiece for the Lions.
Rockdale returns to action next week in the first round of the Georgia High School Association Class AAAAAA state softball playoffs. As the No. 4 seed from Region 2, the Bulldogs will play the No. 1 team from Region 4.
“We start the state tournament next Wednesday and we have to get our girls healthy,” he said. “We have three or four players that are banged up and it’s forcing us to play others out of position. Hopefully we can get them ready and have great practices Monday and Tuesday to prepare ourselves for state.”
First round games will be played Oct. 16-17 at the higher seeded team.
