Lady Cougars downed by late-inning heroics

The Lady Cougars opened up their softball season with a heartbreaker Monday, falling to host Walnut Ridge, 4-3, in the final frame.

Rector moved ahead 2-0 in the top of the second on an RBI double by Rebecca Dodd. After the hosts scored a run on the bottom of the second, Rector's Amanda Bradford came home on passed ball, moving the Blue Crew ahead, 3-1.

Walnut Ridge added two runs in both the fourth inning to knot the game up at 3-3.

Walnut Ridge's Josie Wagoner drove in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

Freshman Kelly Fowler took the loss for Rector, showing a great deal of promise despite giving up three earned runs in four innings. Bradford started the game for Rector, allowing one run in three innings' work.

Dodd led the Lady Cougars at the plate, finishing the day 2-4 with two RBIs. Bradford and Fowler were 2-3 and 1-3, respectively, with a run scored each.

With the season just getting underway, Rector coach Bob Alberson said he feels his team will improve each time they take the field.

"I thought we played well, as far as season openers go," Alberson said. "We're not where we want to be just yet, but I feel like we'll get there. I'm not in panic mode, yet. We've got to work on our hitting. We've got to have more than four hits if we want to be competitive. Still, I thought we looked pretty good for the most part."

Rector was slated to host Sloan-Hendrix Tuesday, but the game was called due to field conditions. The remainder of the Lady Cougar schedule is as follows: March 11, Brookland, 4 p.m.; March 12, Osceola, 4 p.m.; March 15, at Gosnell, 4 p.m.; March 16, Riverside, 4 p.m.; March 18, at EPC, 4:30 p.m.; March 19, at Brookland, 4 p.m.; March 29, at Riverside, 4 p.m.; March 30, at Marked Tree, 4 p.m.; April 1, at Sloan-Hendrix, 4 p.m.; April 5, at Blytheville, 4:30 p.m.; April 6, Marmaduke, 4 p.m.; April 8, at Cross County, 4 p.m.; April 12, EPC, 4:30 p.m.; April 13, Maynard at Pocahontas, 4 p.m.; April 15, Marked Tree, 4:30 p.m.; April 16, BIC, 4 p.m.; April 19, at BIC, 4 p.m.; April 20, at Marmaduke, 4 p.m.; April 22, Cross County, 4 p.m.; April 23, at Osceola, 4 p.m.; April 26, Piggott, 3:30 p.m. and April 27, at Manila, 4 p.m.