No. 4 seed Ascension Catholic used a big fifth inning to rally past No. 12 Cedar Creek 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Select School Division IV playoffs Friday night.
With the loss, the Lady Cougars season comes to a close with a record of 20-14.
“The girls played really well,” said head coach Julie Riser. “This team showed so much growth this year, and I’m so proud of how we played yesterday and fought throughout the whole game.”
Ascension Catholic struck first in the opening inning when Ava Gauthe blasted a two-run home run to center field for an early 2-0 lead.
Cedar Creek answered in the fourth, capitalizing on an Ascension Catholic error to move in front. Kendall Ramsey tripled down the left-field line to drive in a run, and Presley Wall followed with an RBI groundout as the Lady Cougars took a 3-2 advantage. Cedar Creek added another run in the frame to extend the lead to 4-2.
Ascension Catholic responded in the bottom of the fifth with a four-run outburst to regain control. Caroline Diez delivered a two-run double, Hayden Theriot added an RBI double, and Ainsley Allen capped the rally with a run-scoring single to make it 6-4.
Gauthe earned the complete-game victory, allowing four runs — one earned — on seven hits over seven innings while striking out six and walking three.
Ava Lantrip took the loss for Cedar Creek, surrendering three runs on four hits over 1 2/3 innings. Ramsey started in the circle for the Lady Cougars, allowing three runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings with three strikeouts.
Lantrip and Wall led Cedar Creek offensively with two hits apiece, while Lantrip and Ramsey each drove in a run.
Diez collected two hits to pace Ascension Catholic. Diez and Gauthe drove in two runs apiece, while Gauthe also drew three walks as the Bulldogs worked six free passes in the game.
