— FORT GIBSON – When Yogi Berra was quoted as saying “It’s like déjà vu all over again,” he certainly could have been talking about the Fort Gibson girls fastpitch softball team.

For the second time in a week, the Lady Tigers couldn’t come up with the clutch hit and lost a late inning contest, 2-1, this time to Inola Monday at the Fort Gibson diamond. They lost by the same score in a similar manner to Stilwell last week

After four shutout-wins, and averaging almost nine runs a game over the weekend at the Collinsville Festival, Lady Tigers coach Jaime Snyder was frustrated to say the least.

“Madison (Higley) pitched a great game,” Snyder said. “I could not have asked for anything better. But, unfortunately, offensively we didn’t back her up. We had a couple of chances and we didn’t step up and get it done.”

Both Higley (8-2) and Lady Longhorns hurler Lacie Bullard were outstanding in the circle. Bullard scattered five Fort Gibson hits. Higley limited Inola to just six hits while striking out 11 and walking three. She, too, was somewhat frustrated after the game.

“I think I could have pitched a little better in the first two innings, but I got on track and had some good defense behind me,” said the freshman left hander who was also the losing pitcher in the Stilwell game. “But I think we’ve just got to start hitting the ball better.”

Inola (6-2) looked like it might break out in the second inning. A pair of hits and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. But Higley bore down and struck out the next three batters to end the threat.

The Lady Tigers (8-3) countered that threat with one of their own in the third inning. Kelsey Hornback led off with a walk, stole second and moved to third on a groundout. Sage Stout followed with a sharp grounder to third baseman Janie Toon, who looked Hornback back to third and threw to first for the second out. Hornback broke for the plate land was gunned down by first baseman Maddy Peeples to end the inning.

Fort Gibson got in the scoring column in the fourth with a one-out hit by Miranda Cherry, a walk and an RBI single by Raelee Waltman to make it a 1-0 contest. But with runners at first and second, the Lady Tigers could not come up with a needed hit to add to their lead.

Inola broke through against Higley in the fifth inning. Kylie Rue opened the inning with a walk and scored on a double to left center by Carli Jones, who advanced to third on the late throw to the plate. Jones then scored on an RBI shot to left field by Peeples to give the Lady Longhorns their final margin of victory. Bullard then held Fort Gibson to a harmless single by Sydney Murry over the final two innings to preserve the win.

Although the Lady Tigers played error free ball it just wasn’t enough according to Snyder.

“We played good defense,” Snyder said. “But when you score just one run, your defense has to be perfect. Good just isn’t good enough. We had a couple of misplays that allowed them to score those two runs. But we’re young and we’ll learn. Just like Kelsey trying to be too aggressive off third and getting thrown out at home.”