Bearcats, Ladycats fall in respective playoff series openers

Wichita Falls Rider pitcher David Moffatt allowed only one hit while striking out seven to lead the Raiders to a 3-0 win over the Aledo Bearcats Friday night in the opener of a Class 5A best-of-3 area championship series at Bowie High School.

Game 2 will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bowie High School. Should the Bearcats win, a third and deciding game will be played at noon Saturday at Bowie.

Moffatt issued just two walks in seven innings to take the win.

Cody Bradford was the losing pitcher for the Bearcats. The senior allowed only four hits with no walks while striking out eight in seven innings.

The lone Bearcats' hit came from senior Nick Cheema, who lined a single in the first inning. The Bearcats left two runners stranded in the inning and never had more than one runner on base for the remainder of the contest.

In the following six innings the Bearcats would get a runner on base in the third and sixth innings, but both runners were left stranded. Moffatt retired the side in order in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings.

Rider took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Joe Kelleher singled to drive in Deven Smith, and Parker Kelly's base hit later in the frame plated Cason Jackson.

The Raiders closed the scoring in the sixth when Koby Hott led off with a triple and was driven home on a sacrifice fly by James Johnston.

Birdville 7, Ladycats 1

Birdville scored seven unanswered runs on its way to a 7-1 win over the Aledo Ladycats Friday night in the opener of a best-of-3 regional quarterfinals series at Eaton High School.

Game 2 will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Eaton High School. Should the Ladycats win, a third and deciding game will be played at 2 p.m. Saturday at Eaton.

Grace Green was the winning pitcher for the Lady Hawks, while Hannah Andrews took the loss for the Ladycats.

The Ladycats, who were held to three hits, took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Birdville answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 2-1 lead.

Birdville, which recorded eight hits in the contest, exploded for four runs in the fourth inning and closed the scoring with a run in the fifth.