SILOAM SPRINGS -- Gravette scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning to turn a 5-2 deficit into a 6-5 lead over Siloam Springs, but the Lady Panthers were far from down.
Siloam Springs answered Gravette's big inning with five runs in the bottom of the fourth and the Lady Panthers went on to beat the Lady Lions 11-6 at La-Z-Boy Softball Complex.
Siloam Springs committed two errors in the fourth inning to help Gravette take its only lead of the game, but the Lady Panthers settled down over the final three innings and played cleaner softball.
"We didn't hang our heads or give up," said Siloam Springs head coach Scott Wright. "We kept battling and fighting. We took care of business on the offensive side of it and got really stronger as the game went on and got the runs we needed."
Senior Heidi Fernandez got the Lady Panthers' rally started in the fourth inning with a base hit. She stole second base and moved to third on a Gravette error and then scored to tie the game 6-6 on a Kenlie Noel single.
Morgan Curtis reached on a walk, and Hannah Evans blasted a two-run double to put Siloam Springs in front, 8-6. Evans would score on a wild pitch to make it 9-6, and Yasmine Alfaro's RBI groundout scored Lexus Allen, who had reached on a single.
The Lady Panthers added an insurance run in the sixth when Curtis walked, moved to third on a Evans base hit and scored on a fielder's choice by Allen.
Curtis wound up walking twice and getting hit by a pitch twice as the Lady Lions were not taking any chances with the Lady Panthers' 3-hole hitter.
However, Evans, the cleanup batter, went 4 for 4 with three RBIs and scored three runs, while Curtis scored four runs.
Evans got the Lady Panthers' offense started with an RBI double in the first inning after Curtis had drawn a walk. Evans then scored on a Gravette error for an early 2-0 lead.
Allen added three hits for the Lady Panthers while scoring two runs with two RBIs. Allen and Alfaro had RBI hits in the third inning as Siloam Springs took a 5-2 lead.
Gravette scored its first runs of the game on RBI hits from the bottom of its lineup as Robin Davis and Emily Ellis drove in runs with hits.
Hannah Cole had an RBI triple for the Lady Lions in the fourth inning while Jaki Chalk drove in a run. Two consecutive Lady Panthers errors allowed the Lady Lions to take the lead.
Gravette (1-5) finished with 10 hits and left 11 runners on base.
"We put the bat on the ball a lot better than we have the last few games," said Gravette coach Taos Jones. "That's what I was just telling the girls. We're on the brink of our offense squaring up the ball and going off. We've just got to do it."
Brittany Crawley, Sumer McCall and Emily Ellis each had a pair of hits for the Lady Lions, who opened 4A-1 Conference play against Lincoln on Tuesday (after press time).
Crissa Spry (7-2) picked up the win for Siloam Springs, settling down to pitch three scoreless innings to finish the game.
Sports on 03/30/2016