Bears Walk It Off in the Tenth Inning to Survive and Advance in the South Central District Tournament

Friday, May 9, 2025: Softball

Piedmont, OK

The Baton Rouge Bears faced off against the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Lady Norse this evening at F&M Bank Stadium in an elimination game of the South-Central District Tournament. After a ten-inning battle, a solo home run by Mary Wicke secured a 4-3 walk-off victory for the Bears.

In the first three innings, both teams engaged in a classic pitching duel, leaving the scoreboard empty. The Lady Norse broke the stalemate in the top of the fourth inning when K. Lott hit a triple down the left field line and scored on a single by A. Hall.

The Bears responded in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs to take a 2-1 lead. Kyla Ashford hit a triple to right field and scored on a ground out by Rylee Guthrie. Kennedy Kelly then hit a single up the middle, stole second base, and scored after Lindsey Hudson reached on an error by the Lady Norse third baseman.

The Lady Norse tied the game in the sixth inning with a solo home run by A. Hall. They took the lead in the top of the seventh, going up 3-2. M. Wright drew a walk and was pinch-run for by J. McDaniel, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by D. Mason.

The Bears fought back, tying the game in the bottom of the seventh with two outs. Rylee Guthrie led off with a double, advanced to third on a ground out by Kennedy Kelly, and scored on a single to left field by Maddie Robinson.

Both teams had opportunities to take the lead over the next two innings but left runners stranded. In the top of the tenth, A. Hall singled but was picked off by a clever tag play from Mary Wicke while celebrating her hit. The Bears then induced a line out to end the inning unharmed.

Mary Wicke led off the bottom of the tenth with a solo blast over the left field wall, walking off the victory for the Bears.

Briley LeBeouf started for the Bears, pitching five innings and allowing two runs on five hits, walking one, and striking out four. Maddie Robinson, who pitched in relief, was credited with the victory after allowing one run on four hits over five innings, walking two and striking out five. D. Mason started for the Lady Norse and took the loss, pitching nine innings while allowing four runs (three earned) on eleven hits, walking none, and striking out three.

Bears Highlights: 

Lindsey Hudson: 1 for 5 

Maddie Robinson: 1 for 5 with [insert detail] 

Mary Wicke: 2 for 5 with 1 run, [insert detail], and a walk-off solo homer 

Ashlyn Hebert: 3 for 4 

Kyla Ashford: 2 for 4 with 1 run 

Rylee Guthrie: 1 for 3 with 1 run, [insert detail], and 1 double 

Kennedy Kelly: 1 for 3 with 1 run 

With this victory, the Bears improved to 25-17, while the NEO Lady Norse fell to 15-30 on the season. Northern Oklahoma A&M leads the all-time series with four wins to one loss over Baton Rouge. 

Notes:

With this victory, the Bears set a new single season record for wins with 25, breaking last year's record of 24. NEO had previously defeated the Bears in their only two other postseason appearances in 2012 and 2013.

The Bears will play Seminole State on Saturday, May 10, at 11 AM in another elimination game of the South-Central District Tournament. 

For more information about the Lady Bears Softball team, follow us on Twitter at [@username] or on Facebook and Instagram at BRCCAthletics.