GRAVETTE -- With less than two weeks remaining in the 2019 regular season, the Gravette Lady Lions went right to work, taking on rival Pea Ridge Lady Blackhawks in a two-game conference series. In the end, the Lady Lions split the series with a loss at home and a win on the road at Pea Ridge.
First up for the Lady Lions was the April 8 contest at Lion Softball Field in Gravette. The contest got off to a slow start with Pea Ridge bringing home a run in the top of the first and Gravette scoring a run in the bottom of the inning for a 1-1 tie. Gravette gained the lead in the bottom of the third, but that was short lived when the Lady Blackhawks rallied five runs in the top of the fourth to gain a 6-1 advantage.
The Lady Lions managed only one run in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough to catch Pea Ridge, which claimed the win, 6-3, over Gravette.
Gabbi Scott, Shylee Morrison and Cally Kildow each had one run on two hits.
Gravette had 28 at-bats, three runs, seven hits, three RBIs and three strikeouts.
Kildow started for the Lady Lions, completing four innings and delivering 90 pitches. She allowed eight hits, six runs and five earned runs, striking out two and walking one. Kildow was relieved in the top of the fifth by Bailey Elmore, who completed the remaining three innings, throwing 43 pitches. She allowed two hits while striking out four.
The second game of the series moved to Pea Ridge April 11 where the Lady Lion team was on its A-game, overwhelming the Lady Blackhawks, 18-2.
Morrison got things rolling in the top of the first inning for the Lady Lions with a single that brought home the first run of the contest. Gravette completed the inning with one more run for a 2-0 advantage. Gravette scored 16 additional runs, including an eight-run rally in the top of the seventh which sealed the deal for the Lady Lions.
Morrison led the way for the Lady Lions with four runs, three hits and two RBIs. Scott contributed three runs, three hits and three RBIs.
Elmore took the mound for the Lady Lions, completing six innings and delivering 91 pitches. She allowed five hits, four runs and one earned run while striking out seven. Kildow replaced Elmore in the seventh inning, delivering 24 pitches. She allowed only one hit while striking out two and walking two.
Pea Ridge pitcher Josie Taylor completed the entire seven-inning contest, delivering 160 pitches.
The final contest of the week pitted the Lady Lions against the Lady War Eagles of Heritage in Rogers on April 12. Gravette managed the shutout win over Heritage, 12-0, in the six-inning contest. A homer by Lexi Gerner in the third and one by Elmore in the sixth sealed the deal for the Lady Lions. Meghan Woodmancy led Gravette in the batting department with two runs, three hits and two RBIs. Kildow contributed two runs, two hits and one RBI, while Lexi Gerner had one run, two hits and three RBIs.
Gravette had 30 at-bats, 12 runs, 11 hits, 11 RBIs, two strikeouts and four walks.
Starting for the Lady Lions was Elmore, who completed five innings, delivering 63 pitches. She allowed three hits, striking out seven. Kildow came in to pitch one inning, throwing 15 pitches. Kildow struck out two and walked one.
The Gravette Lady Lions are currently in fourth place behind Pea Ridge, Farmington and Berryville with a conference record of 3-2 and an overall record of 9-4 going into the final week of the regular season.
Sports on 04/17/2019