Lady Lions rally falls short against Lady Goblins

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Paige Greer makes a catch in center field for the first out in the top of the fifth during the Gravette-Harrison softball contest at Lion Softball field in Gravatte Thursday night.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Paige Greer makes a catch in center field for the first out in the top of the fifth during the Gravette-Harrison softball contest at Lion Softball field in Gravatte Thursday night.

GRAVETTE -- A last-ditch effort in the bottom of the seventh inning fell one run short when the Harrison Lady Goblins traveled to Gravette for a conference contest against the Lady Lions at Lion Softball field Thursday night.

Gravette grabbed an early lead in the bottom of the first, but Harrison was able to muster a five-run rally to break away from Gravette by four.

The Lady Lions began to creep up on the Lady Goblins in the bottom of the third inning with two runs, cutting Harrison's lead to two. Gravette managed one more run in the sixth to trail by one going into the seventh inning.

Great fielding by the Lady Lions prevented Harrison from scoring again in the contest and the game progressed into the bottom of the seventh.

With two outs and Trinity Burnett at third base representing the tying run, Brynne Romine at second representing the winning run and Keeley Elsea at first base, Taylor Neustel stepped up to the plate and popped up a fly ball which was caught by Harrison and the game was over. The Lady Goblins held on to take the win, 5-4, over the Lady Lions.

Gravette managed four runs on 12 hits and had four RBIs in the game. Romine, Neustel, Burnett and Lizzy Ellis all scored for Gravette.

Brooke Handle was on the mound for the Lady Lions, pitching the entire seven-inning contest. She allowed five runs on four hits with three strikeouts and one walk.

The Lady Lions had better success in an earlier contest played in Berryville April 5 when Gravette took control of the contest with eight runs in the third inning to beat the Lady Bobcats, 14-3.

Romine, Ellis, Neustel, Handle and Burnett all had two runs each in that contest, followed by Elsea, Kelsey Pembleton, Paige Greer and Kaidence Sandival each with one.

Gravette had 31 at-bats, 14 runs on 17 hits, 12 RBIs and four walks.

Handle was on the mound, lasting the entire five-inning contest. She allowed three runs on six hits, struck out five and walked one.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Lady Lion Keeley Elsea (Lions 20) slides into third base well ahead of the ball during the Gravette-Harrison conference matchup at Lion softball field in Gravette Thursday night. The Lady Lions fell to the Lady Goblins 5-4.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lady Lion Keeley Elsea (Lions 20) slides into third base well ahead of the ball during the Gravette-Harrison conference matchup at Lion softball field in Gravette Thursday night. The Lady Lions fell to the Lady Goblins 5-4.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Taylor Neustel (13) stretches as far as she can to catch the ball, throwing the runner out a first base in the top of the sixth inning of the Gravette-Harrison softball showdown in Gravette Thursday night. The Lady Lions lost to the Lady Goblins 5-4 in the conference matchup.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Taylor Neustel (13) stretches as far as she can to catch the ball, throwing the runner out a first base in the top of the sixth inning of the Gravette-Harrison softball showdown in Gravette Thursday night. The Lady Lions lost to the Lady Goblins 5-4 in the conference matchup.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Brynne Romine connects with the ball, sending it into the ground in front of the batter's box during the Thursday night Gravette-Harrison conference game in Gravette. The ball bounced back into the infield, resulting in a base hit for Romine.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Brynne Romine connects with the ball, sending it into the ground in front of the batter's box during the Thursday night Gravette-Harrison conference game in Gravette. The ball bounced back into the infield, resulting in a base hit for Romine.