Rodarte provided a much-needed spark as Bryan’s offense came to life in a big way for a 16-6 run-rule victory over the Tomball Memorial Lady Wildcats in 14-6A play Tuesday night at Lady Viking Field.
Bryan (19-8, 8-1) didn’t look anything like a league leader as surprising Memorial (5-17, 3-7) had a 2-0 lead after three innings. A pep talk from coach Enrique Luna in the top of the third inning didn’t work, but a piece of candy he gave Rodarte before she batted to lead off the bottom of the fourth gave the offense the sugar jolt it needed.
Rodarte lined a shot over the left-field fence.
“The mindset is not to hit a home run, but to get on base,” Rodarte said. “Because once you get on base, then everyone’s like, ‘OK, I can hit the ball.’ So it’s then just like a domino effect.”
It was a slightly delayed domino effect as the next batter flied out, but then everything fell into place as the Lady Vikings had 10 straight hits, including a three-run home run by Rodarte that made it 9-3.
“We haven’t played in a week,” Luna said. “After being on the road for so long, and basically playing I think nine games in seven days, we needed to take a break. We took it easy the last three days last week. I think that’s what showed a little bit. It took us a little while to wake up.
“[Rodarte’s homer] that was the spark we needed.”
Once the bats awoke, the Lady Vikings ended with 20 hits with seven players notching multiple hits.
Rodarte didn’t get a chance to hit a third straight homer as Memorial walked her on four pitches in the fifth, but she had her teammates laughing.
Pinch-hitter Micah Ruiz, who had singled, scored from first on a double by Jacque Adams. Ruiz had to dodge Rodarte, the on-deck hitter, who fell down waving Ruiz home.
“Micah, no offense, but she’s not the fastest out there,” Rodarte said. “She was getting there, and I was like, ‘Oh, my God, that’s my girl.’ I was so excited for her, but then my cleat got stuck on my shoelace and then I kind of tumbled. But that’s the fun of softball.”
Bryan built its lead to 13-4, allowing Luna to move Rodarte from third base to pitcher to start the sixth inning, but she quickly went back to third after hitting a batter and giving up a triple and single.
“The way I saw it, just throw strikes and if they hit me, they hit me,” Rodarte said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get the job done. … but it’s all about getting the win.”
Sophomore Jessica Adams returned to the circle to complete quite a game. She hit a home run in the fifth and added a two-run shot in the sixth, giving her 11 for the year, only the second player in program history to have more than 10 in a season. Adams’ catcher, Brenda Sanchez, ended the game two batters later with a solo home run, the fifth of the game, one more than Bryan hit in a 15-1 win at Memorial in February.
Victoria Gonzales gave up all the homers. Rodarte has only three home runs this season, all against Gonzales.
“She’s the only pitcher I have; we lean on her,” Memorial coach Shelby Moehlig said.
The Lady Wildcats, who start three freshmen, have only one senior on the roster.
Bryan 16, Tomball Memorial 6
Memorial 011 022 — 6 8 2
Bryan 000 (11)23 — 16 20 1
Victoria Gonzales and Kylee Treider. Jessica Adams, Analisa Rodarte (6), Adams and Brenda Sanchez. W – Adams, 14-5. L – Gonzales, 5-17. HR – Bryan: Analisa Rodarte 2 (3), Adams 2 (11), Sanchez. Leading hitters: Memorial – Amanda Molnar 3B, RBI; Katelyn Chomko, 2B, RBI. Bryan - Adams 4-... Click here to read full article
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