Softball playoffs: Hendrickson piles it on in Game 3 against Bastrop to advance

Hendrickson’s Cadence Garcia (00) high-fives Hadlee Woodard (10) after scoring a run during a Class 5A Division I softball bi-district playoff game on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Bastrop High School in Bastrop, Texas. (Michael Adams/Aiustin Sports Journal)

By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal

BASTROP – In a series that featured 42 runs in three games, the deciding factor of Hendrickson’s bi-district playoff series victory ended up being pitching.

The Hawks (15-11-1) got a dominant performance in the circle from sophomore Kara Luongo and went on to defeat Bastrop 8-0 in a deciding game three at Bastrop High School.

Luongo pitched her second shutout of the season and gave up three hits and two walks and struck out five batters.

Hendrickson attacked Bastrop senior pitcher Molleigh Goertz from the beginning of the game, scoring seven runs in the first three innings. Goertz lasted two innings and gave up three earned runs and six hits.

Junior Payton Shroyer was 4 for 5 with an RBI and run scored, while Luongo proved to be just as dangerous in the plate and was 1 for 3 with two RBIs. The Hawks had seven hits with one going for extra bases.

Sophomore Ella Grisenbeck took over for Geortz in the third inning and slowed down Hendrickson’s offense, giving up one run and four hits in five innings.

However, Bastrop’s offense couldn’t figure out Luongo, who didn’t pitch in Game 1 of the series.

The Lady Bears (18-9-2) won that game with a high-powered offense that piled on 14 runs from five extra-base hits, including a home run from junior Lanie Coy and an RBI-double from senior Bailey Merritt.

Merritt got two of the Lady Bears’ three hits Saturday and sophomore Jessica Clay had the other. None of Bastrop’s hits went for extra bases.

Hendrickson moves on to fave Victoria East in the area round of the playoffs. Find the full UIL softball playoff parings and schedule here.