After almost giving the game away, the Bowie softball team won Tuesday at home against Paradise in dramatic fashion with a walk-off RBI for their fifth straight win.
Callie Melton came through with an RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh to give the Lady Rabbits a 5-4 win and to keep the streak alive.
It did not seem the game was going to have a dramatic finish as Bowie seemed firmly in control heading into the final inning.
Despite a leadoff double from Paradise, Lady Rabbit pitcher Kalee Case forced a ground out and two strikeouts to leave the runner stranded on third. Bowie’s Taylor McCarty got on base with a single and was worked to third base, but also was left stranded as well to end the first inning.
Paradise hitters were set down one-two-three in the top of the second. Kylie Fleming drew a walk with one out, but was called out when she left the base too early. The next batter grounded out to end the inning.
After forcing another one-two-three inning, all on ground outs, the Lady Rabbits were able to load the bases. Season Eudey drew a walk, McCarty reached base on an error and Katelyn Allison drew a walk. Unfortunately, the next batter struck out to end the third inning with the game still scoreless.
The Lady Panthers got their leadoff runner on base with a fly ball in the outfield. With it being a really windy day, the ball got away from the outfielder for an error. It would not be the last time.
Fortunately, Case was able to force the next batter into a double play. The next two batters drew a walk and was hit by a pitch, but Case was able to force a fly out to center field. A two out single from Melton did not lead to anything as the game was still scoreless heading into the fifth inning.
Case kept Paradise hitters in the infield at the top of the fifth, including showing great reaction on a ball hit right at her for an out. She was able to keep Lady Panthers hitters off balance by mixing her speeds well and forcing a lot of ground balls.
In the bottom of the fifth, Bowie got their offense rolling. Emily Cox led off with a single up the middle. Maylie Short reached first on an error. McCarty drove in Cox with ground ball up the middle. Short and McCarty ended up on second and third with no outs.
Next batter Allison hit a ground ball to the second baseman, who decided to throw home to try to prevent Short from scoring. This allowed Allison the chance to not just be safe at first, but continued on second. The catcher then threw the ball to second base to try to get Allison out. This provided the opportunity for McCarty to score from third to put Bowie up 3-0.
Next batter Chelsey Ketchum tried to move Allison with a bunt down the third baseline. Ketchum was safe at first, but Allison could not advance. Still with no outs, Carrington Davis hit a line drive to score Allison from second to put the Lady Rabbits up 4-0.
With two runners on base and no outs, it looked like Bowie would be able to score more. Unfortunately, the next three batters had two strikeouts and a fly out to end the fifth inning.
Paradise came out ready to answer in the top of the sixth. A leadoff single put a runner on base. The next batter grounded into a fielder’s choice but the next hit a single to get two runners on.
After Case forced the next batter to pop out to third, both runners were still on second and first. A passed ball allowed both base runners to advance to second and third but Case forced the batter to ground out to third to get out of the inning.
With two outs, McCarty and Allison drew consecutive walks to get on base, but the Lady Rabbits could not take advantage of it as the next batter grounded out.
Still, Bowie was three outs away from sealing the win and the defense had been able to hold every time Paradise had come close to scoring so far. Spirits on Bowie’s side was high.
The first batter grounded out to the pitcher Case. The next batter hit a tough ground ball that McCarty fielded at short stop up the middle. Unfortunately, there was no time to for a throw.
The next batter drilled a ball into center field. Caught up in the wind, the ball got by the outfielder and the batter legged out a triple. The runner on first scored to put the Lady Panthers on the board and cut the lead to 4-1. They still had a long way to go and the Lady Rabbits were still confident.
The next batter lined out to pitcher Case for the second out. With only one out left, things still looked good. Paradise next hit a ball out into right field. The ball got past the outfielder and allowed the runner at third to score. The batter ended up on second with a double with the lead cut to 4-2.
The next batter hit a fly ball out into right field again. It got caught up in the wind and went over the outfielders head. She also mishandled the ball next to the wall for an error. This allowed the runner at second to score and the batter was waved home as well, beating the throw home as she legged out an inside the park home run to tie the game at 4-4.
Short came in to pitch and forced the next batter to fly out to center field to end the inning. The mood was different. The happy-go-lucky attitude heading into the final inning was gone for the girls on Bowie’s side. It was replaced with what turned out to be a focused one heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Davis led off for the Lady Rabbits. She had to find a way on base one way or another. She hit a ground ball to third base. It was mishandled by the third baseman. Davis, not the fastest runner, made it to first in time to get on base. She was subbed for the quick footed Jayci Logan to be the base runner.
Next batter Fleming did her job by laying down a good sacrifice bunt down the third baseline. She was out at first, but Logan was now in scoring position with only one out.
Melton had gone one for three with a single so far in the game. She showed discipline laying off the first three pitches out of the zone. She struck on a pitch in the zone and fouled it off. Next pitch was also in the zone and she drilled it into the gap.
Logan easily scored from second and Melton made it to third before getting mobbed by her team as the game was over. Bowie won 5-4.

To read more, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News