HS Softball: The Woodlands bounces back to beat Bellaire

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- In their second game of the day, The Woodlands Lady Highlanders overcame a 4-2 deficit to beat the Bellaire Cardinals 10-4 at home on Friday. Avery Taylor got the win in the circle for the Highlanders with Madison Martinez in relief.

The Highlanders kicked things off with 2 runs in the top of the first. Katie Emberton singled into left field where the Bellaire outfielder had trouble fielding the ball. The Woodlands would take advantage of the Cardinals error, something they did multiple times on Friday, to score the opening two runs.

Avery Taylor got the win, but she had to recover from a slow start in the bottom of the first. Bellaire was able to capitalize off of a wild pitch and a couple of hits to double the Highlanders’ first-inning total.

The Highlanders needed a spark to get back in rhythm, so Gabby Leach stepped up to the plate and set the place ablaze with a clutch two-run homer. Leach launched a two-strike fly ball over the right-field wall, scoring Haley Mountain from second and tying the game at four. Another error and a single by Abbey Newlun put The Woodlands up 6-4 after two innings.

The Highlanders would go on to keep the bats hot, including another RBI from Leach, to score eight unanswered runs and put Bellaire away to end the day. The Woodlands tallied 11 hits in the win with Mountain leading the team with three. Earlier in the day, The Woodlands blanked Cinco Ranch 8-0. The team will wrap up the tournament on Saturday with games against Cy Ranch and Grand Oaks.