In just a half-inning, Katy lost its four-run lead over Katy Taylor to a grand slam in a District 18-5A softball game Tuesday night.

But the Tigers kept their composure and managed to score three more runs in the bottom of the fifth to get a 7-5 victory.

Katy (22-4 overall, 10-1 district) racked up an early run in the second when a lead off double scored on an RBI. The Tigers added three runs in the bottom of the fourth on four hits.

Taylor’s bats were quiet through the first four innings, stranding runners on base. But the top of the fifth was a new ball game.

Callie Lazarine led off the inning with a double. Juliann Jaime 's RBI single scored Lazarine. Two hits followed to load the bases for senior pitcher Sarah Blair. Blair worked the count then tattooed the ball over the left field fence for a grand slam.

“She takes lessons from me,” Katy coach Kalum Haack joked. “If there had been any other situation than bases loaded, we would have probably put her on. If I’m ever in that situation again, I will put her on, give up one run, instead of four.

“She’s probably one of the best players in our league as far as hitting and pitching. I mean she just does it all.”

Down one, Katy didn’t give up. The Tigers fought back the next inning and scored three runs.

“One thing I noticed was that once we gave up the runs and got behind, I didn’t sense any pressure or nervousness,” Haack said. “I felt that they were calm and knew that they had to come back from that. The team just got up and did what they needed to do.”

Victoria Culbertson led off with a single, then stole second base and advanced to third on an error. Holly Holl came to the plate and doubled, bringing in Culbertson to tie the game. Two more girls reached base and Stacy Dominique and Darian Blake brought them home.

The Tigers regained the lead and held Taylor for six more outs. Kara Solomon came in to pitch, relieving Denise Arnold, for the win.

“Denise did a real good job of hitting her pitches and moving the ball but I think she relaxed a little bit when we got the four run lead,” Haack said. “Then Kara came in and did a great job. That’s the first time she’s come in, in a crucial situation, and I was really proud of how she stepped up and hit her pitches.”

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