ASH weathers storm to get past Ouachita

Mother Nature wreaked havoc on Northeastern Louisiana with thunderstorms that halted the Ouachita versus Alexandria Senior High second-round softball playoff game on Friday.

The game was stopped in the top of the sixth inning with one out and No. 13 Alexandria leading No. 4 Ouachita 8-1, and was down for a two hour delay. In the end, ASH held serve for a 8-1 win after 4 hours and 45 minutes total time.

The Lady Trojans advance back to Sulphur and the LHSAA Fast Pitch 56 Tournament for the second straight season and will play Friday in the quarterfinals against No. 5 Sam Houston.

"This feels great," ASH coach Gary Parnham said. "I think we have a good chance (at state). I think we are playing great as a team."

Caroline Manzer hit an RBI triple with two outs and Carrie Boswell followed with an RBI single to get the scoring started in the top of the second inning.

Ouachita struck for their first run on a Victoria Pederson home run in the bottom of the third inning to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Ouachita starting pitcher Destiny Lilley found a groove through the third and fourth innings, but the Lady Trojans found the holes in the top of the fifth. ASH scored six runs to take a 8-1 lead prior to the weather delay halting the proceedings.

"Credit to ASH, they (played) well," Ouachita coach Tim Whitman said. "If you take (the fifth inning) away we are right in there but we just have to come focused and do a good job at the plate. (ASH pitcher Carrie Boswell) is making good pitches."

In the fifth, Audrey Good started things off with an RBI single. Another run came into score on a bases-loaded walk before lead-off hitter Taryn Antoine hit a two-run single. Ashley Welch followed with a two-run double to widen the gap to 8-1.

"We were hot for awhile and (weather) kind of cooled us off," Parnham said.

Whitman agreed the weather was not ideal but nothing could be avoided.

"It is tough on the kids, but it is what it is," Whitman said.

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