By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

As a long time head coach, Riverside Coach Mickey Roussel has seen his share of peaks and valleys. But never like this.

On Friday night, Riverside was as high as could be emotionally. 24 hours later, it was just as low.

Doyle pitcher Ashton Bennett ended the Rebels’ season in the bottom of the 11th inning with a two out home run blast over the centerfield wall. It erased a 5-4 Riverside lead and lifted the Lady Tigers to a 6-5 victory in the Class 2A state semifinals in Sulphur.

It came one day after the Rebels’ most thrilling win of the season, a 3-2 win over DeQuincy that came on the strength of Kelsi Roussel’s second game-winning walkoff hit in a week’s time, a two-RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

 “To go from that total high to that kind of low in less than 24 hours, I haven’t seen that,” said Riverside Coach Mickey Roussel. “We went from one extreme to the other.”

After failing to settle things within seven innings, Doyle (23-5, 10-3) and Riverside (24-14) entered the eighth inning tied 4-4.

There, RA’s Chelsey Stein and Doyle’s Bennett seemed like they could duel forever, going through the 10th with no additional runs scored.

But in the 11th, it looked to everyone that Riverside would be marching on to the state title game to attempt to win its first title since 2002. After Jessica Price led off with a single, Bridget Petit advanced pinch runner Kaci Simon to second with a grounder. Heather LeBlanc bunted Simon over, but reached first herself for an infield hit.

Heidi Garcich’s sacrifice fly gave the Rebels a 5-4 lead, one that appeared it would hold up after Stein got each of Doyle’s first two batters to pop up on the first pitch in the bottom of the 11th.

But after a single by Morgan Swindle, Bennett ended the game with one swing of her bat.

“We were naturally feeling pretty good,” said Roussel. “We had the lead, got the first two outs. The wind was blowing in, so you don’t think you’ll see a home run in that spot. But what are you gonna do?”

Garcich scored the game’s first run in the first inning after a Doyle errant throw to first on  Brittany Schoen ground ball.

The top of the Riverside order generated its next three runs as well. After Garcich singled and Schoen reached on another Doyle error, Marci Millet tripled in both runners to make it 3-0. Roussel would single her in to make it 4-0.

But Doyle fired back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four runs on a double and two singles by Swindle, Bennett and Brittany Ryle.

Bennett struck out eight Riverside batters while allowing 11 hits. Stein allowed 10 hits and struck out four.

Millet, Price, Vicknair and LeBlanc were all 2-for-5 for the Rebels. Swindle and Bennett were each 3-for-6.

QUARTERFINALS: Riverside 3, DeQuincy 2 – Not many softball players will ever get the opportunity to win two games in a row at the plate with a walk off RBI.

So never in Kelsi Roussel’s wildest dreams did she expect to do so in two straight playoff games.

But there Roussel was, surrounded by her teammates, screams, and tears of joy at home plate. Her two-RBI single scored Garcich and Schoen to lift the Rebels to the state semifinals.

It came less than a week after Roussel lifted the Rebels over Menard in the regional round with a walk off- RBI single.

With the Rebels trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Garcich led off with a single to shallow center. Schoen followed up with a single to right. Millet grounded out to advance both runners.

Then, DeQuincy elected to load the bases with an intentional walk to Ayla Vicknair. Roussel hit a ball to short, and shortstop Kara Rainwater’s throw to second wasn’t in time as Garcich scored to tie the game.

But Schoen saw an opportunity and broke for home. She slid under the tag of Tigers catcher Kaitlyn Foster to score the winning run.

“I was just thinking, ‘home plate!’” said Schoen. “It was instinct.”

Roussel said she knew she needed to step up, after having an off day at the plate prior to her last at bat.

“I’d been struggling. But I knew my teammates needed this. Coach Kristy (Hebert) said to believe in myself, and I just did as best I could.”

Said Hebert: “I told her that they were walking Ayla to get to you, so show them what you can really do. I had all the confidence in the world in her. She showed she can handle the pressure.”

For Mickey Roussel, the win would be his last as head coach. Next season, he will step into an assistant’s role, effectively switching places with Hebert next year.

But his last head coaching win was certainly memorable.

“I feel numb,” said Roussel. “I’m just so proud of our team tonight. They just hung in there and made plays when it mattered.”