BURNET — The Taylor Lady Ducks softball team snapped a three-game skid with a 6-2 victory over the Burnet Bulldogs on Friday, March 20 at Burnet High School.
Sophomore Katelyn Oglesby led the way offensively, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a team-high two RBIs.
Taylor wasted no time getting on the board. Oglesby delivered a two-out double in the top of the first inning, which sparked the Lady Ducks and led to the game’s first run for a 1-0 lead.
Burnet answered in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game at 1-1 after sophomore utility player Payton Burrow issued a bases-loaded walk.
The Lady Ducks responded quickly in the second inning, capitalizing on opportunities to regain control. Taylor pushed across two runs on a groundout and a Burnet error to take a 3-1 lead.
Burrow settled in after the first inning and turned in a strong performance in the circle. The sophomore tossed a complete game, allowing two runs on six hits while recording six strikeouts and shutting out Burnet’s offense throughout the middle innings.
Taylor added to its lead in the third inning when junior Anaih Arroyo came through with an RBI single to extend the advantage to 4-1. Arroyo was also productive at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with an RBI.
The Lady Ducks threatened to break the game open later in the inning, loading the bases with no outs, but Burnet escaped the jam with a lineout, groundout and flyout to keep the deficit at three runs.
Both teams were held scoreless over the next few innings as pitching and defense took over. Taylor broke through again in the top of the seventh inning, beginning with backto- back singles from sophomore Kennedy Pleasants and Arroyo. Oglesby continued her standout night with an RBI hit to make it 5-1, and senior Alayna Ortiz followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-1.
Burnet managed to push across one run in the bottom of the seventh, but the Lady Ducks closed out the game with a popout to secure the 6-2 win.
With the victory, Taylor improves to 9-12-1 overall and 2-3 in district play. The Lady Ducks faced Gateway on Tuesday and will return to action on the road against Marble Falls on Friday, March 27, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
