Lady Gators edge Covington in Coach “I” Tournament

LAKE - St. Amant’s Emily Douglas laid down a bunt during an international tie-breaker and Anna Gassen’s throw from third was high allowing Kelly Luquette to score capping a four-game sweep by the Lady Gators in the Coach?“I”  Tournament Saturday afternoon at Butch Gore Park.

Amie Parent pitched a no-hitter for St. Amant (10-0) striking out three in five innings during the 1-0 victory.

St. Amant defeated Belle Chasse 8-0 to open the tournament Friday before ousting Thibodaux 8-0. Saturday began with a 9-0 victory over Captain Shreve.

“Hopefully, we can learn from the things that we did wrong this weekend and get a little bit better,” St. Amant head coach Scott Nielson said. “There will be a lot of games down the road that we will have pressure situations. Fortunately, we have a veteran team and the kids have been in those situations before. Any situation that you can get put in early on to help you out is good and we responded.”

Luquette was placed on base in the according to the international tie-breaker rule scoring the winning run on Douglas’ bunt.

“She threw it away at first base,” Nielson said. “We were just trying to move the runner over. We had the 3-4-5 hitters coming to the plate so I will take my chances with them most of the time. It is what it is. Covington has got a good program and I have a lot of respect for them. We are happy to come out with a win but we left a lot of runners on base.”

St. Amant threatened in the bottom of the first when Luquette lined a double inside the third base base and advanced on Douglas’ sacrifice bunt but Bridget Buquoi popped up a squeeze bunt and Megan Strange struckout Melanie Parker to get out of th e inning.

Parent struckout the side in the top of the second. Brooke Capello lined a single over third with two outs in the bottom half and Gabrielle Templet drew a walk before Amanda Martin reached on a bunt to load the bases but Luquette flied out to end the inning.

The Lady Gators also threatened in the third when Douglas walked and Buquoi dropped a single to shallow left center with no outs but Strange struckout Parker and forced Kandace Boudreaux and Parent into deep fly outs.

Carrie Daughdrill was placed on base according to the tie-breaker rule in the bottom of the fifth but Parent fielded a bunt and forced a pop up before Daughdrill was thrown out by catcher Douglas to shortstop Boudreaux at third.

Parent also pitched against Belle Chasse, while Martin was in the circle against Thibodaux and Captain Shreve.

Luquette was 3 for 7 over the weekend with five runs and four RBI, while Buquoi was 5 for 7 with seven RBIs and three runs, Parker was 5 for 9 with four RBI and two runs and Martin was 4 for 7 with three RBIs and three runs.