Indiana ran into some trouble yesterday at the Junior League Softball World Series, falling to Columbus, Texas, 13-5, but they are still alive. For the third straight game, they fell behind, this time 1-0 in the first, but they tied the game in the second inning and almost added more, losing out on two more runs because of baserunner’s interference.
In the third, Maddie Twincheck gave Indiana a 2-1 lead with a home run, but Texas knocked out six hits and scored eight runs in the bottom of the inning, helped by a two-run homer, a three-run single, and some mistakes in the field, one of which involved a disputed call that required a ruling from the umpires and World Series officials to settle.
Indiana scored three more runs in the fifth inning, but Texas pulled away with four in the sixth to set the final at 13-5.
Leah Nelson and Reese Mahaffey each had two hits for Indiana.
Coach Jenny Brewer says the girls have to forget the loss and move on.
Brewer says both teams were bashing the ball at the plate, but the Texas bats were finding the holes.
Indiana has qualified for the tournament quarterfinals, but they have one more game to play in Pool B, today at 1:30 against the Philippines, representing Asia Pacific, which is 1-2, having lost to Canada, 5-0 yesterday.
Brewer says the Filipinos can play.
Four teams will qualify out of Pool B. California was eliminated yesterday, putting Indiana into the elimination round starting tomorrow.
