Mojo Picks Up Win Over Lee

Odessa, TX – Holding a 3-2 lead after four innings, Permian slapped three insurance runs on the board in the fifth to secure a 6-3 district victory over Midland Lee on Tuesday at the Ratliff Softball Complex.

Alexis Belen went the distance in the circle for Mojo. She struck out 10 and walked four, while holding Lee to three runs.  Tiggy Rayos went three-for-four at the plate – belting out a triple, scoring two runs, and adding an RBI hit.

Belen established her presence early, fanning three Lady Rebels in the opening frame.  The Mojo bats were to be dealt with as well. Permian utilized a Rayos lead-off walk to take an early lead.  After Lee committed its first of five fielding errors, Emma Chavez donated an RBI single to plate Rayos for a 1-0 lead.

Belen recorded another strike out en route to retiring the side in the second inning.  The Lady Panthers would strand two runners in the bottom half.  Lee took its only lead of the game in the third on a two-run homer to right field, but Mojo immediately came back and tied the game.  Rayos led off and got on base, and Belen joined her after drawing a walk.  That would set up Rayos to cross the plate on another Lee fielding error. 

The Lady Rebel batters were dealt two more K’s in the fourth.  The Black Cats regained a lead that they would not surrender the remainder of the game.  Makayla Sanchez opened the Mojo at-bat with a hard hit double to centerfield.  Mackenzie Bernal followed with a shot hammered to left field, and Rayos recorded an RBI hit for a 3-2 Permian lead.

Lee threatened in the top of the fifth, but came away with a goose egg.  Belen gave up a double and pair of walks, but worked her way out of a two-out jam.  The Lady Rebels were able to fill the bases, but stranded all three runners.  Permian put the game on ice in the bottom on the fifth.

Taylor Ramirez led off with a base hit to start things off.  Arianna Ybarra batted next and stepped in the batter’s box with confidence.  She uncorked a shot over the left field fence that was probably found against the curb of the Ratliff Stadium entry road.  Shaken, the Rebels committed yet another fielding error to green light Nyssa Dunn to lead the second wave to threaten more scoring.  Back-to-back singles by Bernal and Rayos would load the bases with one out.  Madison Garcia collected a walk to force in the third run in the inning.  Two infield ground balls made their way to home plate for consecutive forced outs to end the inning.  Lee had dodged giving up more runs, but Mojo now sat on a 6-2 advantage.

After a quiet sixth frame, the Lady Rebels faced their last chance to get back into game.  After a flyout and strikeout, Lee managed to plate a run with two outs to close out scoring but still three runs short.  Permian claimed the 6-3 decision for the first district win.  The second half of the 2-6A schedule begins on Thursday with the Lady Panthers hosting Abilene High.