It was only fitting that Katherine Espinosa got the winning hit.

After striking out 18 batters in seven innings of work, the Bellaire softball team's senior pitcher helped herself and her team by getting a big hit against a bitter rival Monday night.

“It’s very exciting,” she said. “I feel like I accomplished something this year.”

Espinosa’s RBI single in the eighth inning helped Bellaire pull out a 2-1 win over Lamar Monday night at the Butler Softball Field to keep its dreams alive for a District 20-5A championship.

It was the second close game between the two teams this year; Lamar beat the Cardinals 1-0 on March 7. The only run of that game scored off a double and a error.

In the eighth inning with the international tiebreaker rule in effect (starting the inning with a runner at second), the Redskins got an out at home when Bellaire’s Adura Wood hit to third baseman Brittany Lilly, who threw to catcher Katie Murphy to get the second out of the inning. Then after Wood stole second, Espinosa hit a shot past the shortstop to bring Wood home to make it 1-0. Then Chloe Tippett hit a shot to left field to bring home another run to make it 2-0.

“Everybody in the stadium thought the momentum was gone, but we took some chances in baserunning and got some steals happening and got some clutch hits from two juniors.” Bellaire coach Brien Tuffly said. “I’m proud of both of them.”

Lamar bounced back in the bottom of the inning, as a throwing error with two outs got Gessenia DeLaCruz to score after starting the inning at second base. But Espinosa closed the door on the Redskins with a strikeout to Bailey Teas to end the game.

The game started as a pitching duel between Espinosa and Lamar’s Kelsey Goodwin, who both kept the game scoreless in the first seven innings with dominant pitching. Both teams did not get a hit until the eighth inning. While Espinosa held the Lady Redskins to no hits while striking out 18, Goodwin struck out nine in her eight innings of work.

“I don’t know how many strikeouts Katherine had or (Kelsey) had, but both pitched well,” Tuffly said. “It was just a great game to watch.”

While Lamar (13-11, 10-1) suffered its first district loss of the season, the Redskins still control its destiny to win district. Meanwhile, the win gives Bellaire (22-8, 8-2) some hope to get at least a share of the district title, while giving the Cardinals some confidence heading into next week’s playoffs.

“I’m glad for these kids. They worked so hard and played so well throughout the year,” Tuffly said. “This is a great way to start heading into the playoffs.”

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