"We just couldn't hold 'em at bay," Wildcats coach Corey Gochee said of the Longhorns. "We couldn't stop 'em late in the game. They scored four in the fifth and four in the sixth, and we had a 6-5 lead through four innings. They're a very good hitting team and when they get in hitter's counts, they don't miss it."
Lambert answered each time Woodland went ahead. The Wildcats led 1-0, but trailed 2-1 at the end of the first inning. They went ahead 4-2 in the top of the third, only to see the Longhorns trim that lead by one.
In the fourth, Lambert regained the lead, 5-4, before Woodland took a 6-5 lead. The Longhorns then plated four runs in each the fifth and sixth innings to take a commanding 13-6 lead, and the Wildcats added two runs in the seventh to provide the final margin.
"We got behind late in the game as far as [pitch] counts," Gochee said. "We got behind hitters, and they made us pay. ... When they get in hitter's counts, they know what they want and they're very disciplined at the plate."
"I thought we did a pretty good job of scoring runs and trying to put multiple runs on the board," the Woodland coach added.
Hitters for the Wildcats included Robert Harris, 3 for 4 (double, two runs, RBI); Luke Patterson, 1 for 3 (double, two RBIs, run); and Josh Day, 1 for 3 (three RBIs). Jordan Osteen, Brandon Hardin and Camden McGill also added a hit apiece, with McGill scoring a run as well.
Jacob Moore pitched four innings for Woodland, giving up four earned runs with two strikeouts and two walks. Cody Baxter pitched one inning (strikeout, two walks, two earned runs), Dalton Martin pitched one-third of an inning (two hit batters, walk, two earned runs) and Landon Killian pitched two-thirds of an inning (strikeout, walk, two earned runs).
Woodland (6-5, 4-2 Region 7-AAAA) hopes to improve in time for Monday's game with Northwest Whitfield. The Wildcats host the Bruins at 5:55 p.m.
"We talked about a few of the mistakes we made," Gochee said. "[We have to] battle and attack the zone a little more from the mound [and] continue to swing the bat well."
Woodland, who's game with Creekview was rained out Saturday, will head to Canton Tuesday for a 5:55 p.m. makeup game with the Grizzlies.