PARIS, Mo.– The Louisiana Lady Bulldogs defeated the Paris Coyotes 8-6 on Monday night. This was the first win in a year for the Bulldogs, as the team went 0-21 last season. The win was long overdue for the athletes who demonstrated their hard work and grit in the team effort.

“This was most definitely a team win. It took every one of us, on and off the field, to win this ball game,” said head coach Kelsea Calvin.

Louisiana had an even match in Paris and they were hungry after losing to the Coyotes 5-0 in 2020.

“It makes me super proud to see the growth in my girls from this summer to now. We had grit the entire game. We kept a positive attitude the whole game,” Calvin added.

The Bulldogs scored in the top half of the first inning and from then on, there was a back and forth battle for the lead.

“We had huge heads up plays the whole game. We also made plays that shifted the momentum in our favor,” added the coach proudly.

In the seventh inning, the Lady Bulldogs gave fans a glimpse of the competitive edge that they bring to the 2021 season.

The Lady Bulldogs were down 6-5 in the seventh inning with two outs, and no runners on base. Sophomore Alli Jenkins, who had a fantastic day defensively, gave the team life. Jenkins belted a ground-rule double down the left-field line, kick-starting the two-out rally.

Freshmen Tessa DePriest drew a walk, taking the count deep, extending the inning for the Bulldogs.

Emily Powell hit a ground ball sharply to second base, causing the second baseman to commit an error. This error ended in two runs crossing the plate, allowing Louisiana to gain the lead.

The scoring didn’t stop there, Emily Powell crosses home plate on a passed ball, giving the team some insurance for the last inning of play.

Freshmen Katie Wallace attempted a steal home later in the seventh inning and was tagged out at home plate. The catcher landed on Wallace’s finger, dislocating the limb.

“Freshmen Katie Wallace got pretty banged up in the game, but she got back out there and played the last inning. What a tough kid, ” added Calvin.

Louisiana held on in the seventh inning, securing the win over Paris. Sophomore Ty Campbell picked up her first career varsity win.

Louisiana is back in action Tuesday night against Palmyra at home. First pitch in the non-conference matchup is set for 5:00 PM. Find coverage of area sports by staying tuned to 102.1FM or by listening to Eagle 102 through the KJFM Radio app or online at kjfmradio.com.

In the featured image, Tessa DePriest connects with a ball early in the Bulldogs win over the Coyotes. Above, Alli Jenkins shares a smile and a sigh of relief after hustling to third base on a passed ball.