Goblins prevail in 5-2 conference game against Lions in Gravette

GRAVETTE -- The Gravette Lions tried to stage a comeback in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings but fell short by three runs when the team squared off against the Harrison Goblins in Gravette on Thursday.

Both the Lions and Goblins were unable to score any runs in the first three innings of the game. That changed in the top of the fourth when Harrison mounted a three-run rally to surge ahead of Gravette going into the bottom of the inning.

The Goblin pitcher held Gravette scoreless in the bottom of the fourth. Harrison picked up a run in the top of the fifth to extend its lead to four.

But the Lions managed to come back in the bottom of the fifth and sixth, cutting the Goblins' lead to two.

Harrison added one more run in the top of the seventh inning to take the conference win, 5-2, over Gravette.

Keegan Bulza and Cy Hilger were the only two Lions to get runs. Jake Carver picked up two base hits, with Gunnar Woolard and Isaiah Larson picking up one hit each.

Jake Carver was on the mound for the Lions, completing four innings. He allowed four runs on three hits while walking four and striking out seven.

Carver was relieved in the top of the fifth inning by Holden Betz who completed the remaining three innings, throwing 28 pitches. Betz allowed one run on three hits while striking out two.

Just before the severe weather hit on Friday night, the Gravette Lions and Bentonville West Wolverines were able to play their game in Centerton.

Five runs in both the third and sixth innings by Bentonville West sealed the Lions' fate as Gravette went down to the second defeat of the week, 12-2.

Woolard and Kildow were the only two Lions to get runs.

In all, Gravette had 23 at-bats with two runs on five hits and two RBIs. Six batters walked and seven struck out.

Hunter Roughton started on the mound for the Lions, completing three innings and allowing six runs on six hits while walking three and striking out one. Wyatt Coffelt replaced Roughton in the fourth. He allowed one run on three hits, struck out one and walked two. McCoy Kildow finished up the contest, throwing 18 pitches. He allowed five runs on five hits, with one strikeout and one home run.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Jake Carver delivers a fastball to home plate during the Gravette-Harrison conference baseball contest at Lion Ballpark in Gravette Thursday night. The Lions fell behind in the third inning and were never able to catch up as the Goblins took the win 5-2.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Keegan Bulza connects with a pitch, sending it low along the first base line which resulted in a base hit during the Thursday night Gravette-Harrison baseball contest in Gravette, Bulza and teammate Cy Hilger were the only two Lions to get runs in the 5-2 loss to the Goblins.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Gunnar Woolard (3) tries his best to avoid the tag by the Goblin catcher as he tries to touch home plate during the Gravette-Harrison conference game in Gravette Thursday night. Try as he may, the umpire called him out at home plate.