BRYAN — The Hutto High School varsity softball team picked up a crucial 6A-District 12 victory Friday, March 22 as the Lady Hippos held on for a 5-4 win at Bryan High School.
The Lady Hippos got on the board in the top of the first inning as junior Makayla Martinez reached on an error that scored sophomore Sophie McElyea to make the score 1-0.
After the Lady Vikings tied it in the second frame and scored again in the fourth to give them a 2-1 advantage, the Lady Hippos were able to rally over the next few innings. Hutto got a sacrifice fly by sophomore M’Kayla Hicks in the fifth frame to tie it 2-2 and took the lead on another sacrifice fly by senior Hailey Leluga to go up 3-2.
In the top of the seventh inning, junior Makenzie Klos reached on an error that scored Hicks and freshman Makenna Castillo hit an RBI double for two more insurance runs to extend the Hutto lead to 5-2.
Although Bryan rallied with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, Hutto was able to hold on as senior pitcher Elizabeth Espinosa struck out the final batter to preserve the victory. Espinosa picked up the win in the circle as she pitched seven innings with seven strikeouts and just two earned runs allowed.
Lady Hippos sophomore Kenna Spence was 3-for-5 at the plate and had a double, while the trio of Leluga, Castillo and junior Jayda Gallegos each had two hits against Bryan.
Hutto (15-10 overall, 3-2 district record), under Head Coach Matthew Mullins, was scheduled March 26 to host rival Pflugerville Weiss High School and remain at home Thursday, March 28 at 7 p.m. versus Waco Midway High School.
