Lady Eagles fall to neighbor Thorndale in close one

The Milano Lady Eagles (5-8-1, 1-1) fell to Milam County neighbor Thorndale 4-3 on Tuesday evening in District 27-2A action. A late home run by Thorndale in the top of the seventh inning proved to be the difference. The game was tied at 3-3 with one out in the top of the seventh when Riley White hit a solo home run to center field off Milano ace Jenna Lewis. All of the Lady Eagles’ runs came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jenna Lewis reached base on an error and courtesy runner Dara Doelitsch advanced to third on an Abigail Olson double to left field. Laynie Bastow drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Sterling Robertson smashed a line drive double to right field to score Doelitsch and Olson and Bastow ended up on third, making it a 3-2 ball game. McKenna Robertson grounded out to first base, but Bastow scored to tie the game at 3-3. The Lady Eagles would record the third out before the remaining base runner could score. For Thorndale, Kate Casey singled in the top of the second inning to push Lauren Newton across home plate. Emilee Baker went two-forfour at the plate for the Lady Dogs. She scored in the top of the fifth on an error by the Lady Eagle defense to put Thorndale up 2-0. Newton scored again in the top of the sixth on a bases loaded walk. White tossed the win, striking out 12 Lady Eagle batters. For Milano, Lewis fanned seven Thorndale batters. The Lady Eagles continue 27-2A play on Saturday morning when they host Thrall. Milano will play at Granger on Monday and host Holland on Tuesday. Milano went 1-4 over the weekend at the Franklin tournament. They opened up tourney play with an 11-0 win over Fairfield. Bastow hit a home run and double, with Sterling Robertson connecting for a triple and a double. Lewis struck out 11 batters in the victory. Then, Milano fell 13-0 to White Oak and 4-0 against Crawford. Bastow struck out five in the White Oak game and Lewis sat down seven Lady Pirates in Crawford game.

On Saturday, the Lady Eagles fell 5-2 to Huntsville, with Lewis striking out six. Sterling Robertson recorded an RBI in the effort. Milano closed out its tournament appearance with a 13-0 loss to Crawford. Olson had Lady Eagles’ only hit in the contest.