Rodriguez leads Lady War Eagles past Bryan

CONROE, Texas - The Oak Ridge Lady War Eagles bounced back from a tough loss to The Woodlands to defeat Bryan 4-1 in a District 14-5A softball game Tuesday night at Oak Ridge High School.

The win moved the Lady War Eagles to 13-8 overall and 5-2 in District 14-5A play, tied for second with College Park and Lufkin.

Bryan dropped to 2-5, though the Lady Vikings played much better than their district record.

“They really hit the ball,’’ Oak Ridge coach Amanda Brimberry said of the Lady Vikings. “I kept wanting us to score more runs. They are never out of it.’’

Bryan threatened in almost every inning, but Oak Ridge junior pitcher Jessica Rodriguez pitched her way out of trouble time after time.

Rodriguez also added a solo home run to lead off the War Eagles’ four-run second inning. It was her first round-tripper of district play and third of the season,
Brimberry said.

“She is becoming quite a leader for us,’’ Brimberry said of Rodriguez, who scattered six hits and struck out three to earn the victory. “This is her first year to pitch. She is doing a great job.’’

After Rodriguez worked out of a two-on, no out jam in the first, she led off the Oak Ridge second with a long home run to right-center field. Amanda Cunniff followed with a double off center fielder Taylor Curtis’ glove and scored ahead of Carter Spexarth’s double to give the Lady War Eagles a 2-0 lead.

Ronnie Villafranco followed with an RBI single to left to plate Spexarth and, two outs later, Cheyenne Cavanaugh smacked an RBI single to left to score Villafranco and give Oak Ridge a 4-0 lead.

That’s all Oak Ridge would need, though Bryan’s Anissa Hernandez made things interesting by leading off the third with a home run to left to cut the lead to 4-1. Erica Russell also had a single and Courtney Meier drew a two-out walk to put runners on first and second before Rodriguez got Ally Bessette to pop out to shortstop Amber Serrett to end the threat.

Serrett, who is only a junior, has verbally committed to play softball at LSU.

“She does a great job for us,’’ Brimberry said. “She is part of a very good junior class.’’

Bryan shortstop Erica Russell made the play of the game when she ranged far to her left and made a diving catch of Tiler Noyola’s pop up in foul ground.

Oak Ridge’s Gabby Davila, who sets the Lady War Eagles’ offense in motion, tagged up from first and went to second on the play.

“Gabby has an older sister who plays (softball) for the University of Houston and another who runs track,’’ Brimberry said. “She comes from a very athletic family.’’

The victory snapped the Lady War Eagles’ two-game skid in district play after losses to Lufkin and The Woodlands.

Oak Ridge next will travel to meet College Park at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

“We needed this win (to get us back on the right track),’’ Brimberry said. “We had a couple games after spring break where we came out flat. We needed to come back with a win (tonight).’’