GRAVETTE -- After a 13-0 shutout win over Providence Academy on March 6, the Lions were shut out, 5-0, by visiting Van Buren on March 7 and lost two doubleheader games at Harrison on the weekend, 6-2 and 8-5.
Holden Betz, Hunter Roughton, and Cyric Day combined to throw a shutout against Providence Academy on March 6. Betz was credited with the win. He threw for three and a third innings and allowed one hit and no runs while striking out seven. Day and Hunter Roughton finished out the game for Gravette.
The Lions scored two runs in the first, eight in the third and two more in the fourth to finish off the game in 4 and a half innings of play.
Gunnar Woolard went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Gravette in hits. He also had three RBIs in the game.
Van Buren 5, Gravette 0
Van Buren scored two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth while holding Gravette scoreless in the seven-inning game. Van Buren had four hits in the game, including a home run and a triple. Gravette had seven hits, two by Kyle Murphy in three at-bats.
Harrison 6, Gravette 2
The Lions scored a run in the second and another in the sixth, but Harrison scored two in the third, three in the fourth and another in the sixth for the 6-2 win.
Justin Trucks walked and later scored in the second inning on a Cyric Day groundball and second baseman error. Trucks scored again in the sixth after doubling to center and making it home on an Isaiah Larson single to right field.
Kyle Murphy was on the mound for Gravette for three and two-thirds innings, allowing five hits and five runs while striking out two. Hunter Roughton threw two and a third innings in relief.
Larson, Rhett Hilger, McCoy Kildow, and Justin Trucks each managed a hit for Gravette.
Harrison 8, Gravette 5
The Lions lost the lead late in game two for an 8-5 loss. Gravette led 5-3 after four and one-half innings, but Harrison scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth for the win.
The Lions lost despite out-hitting Harrison nine to three.
Gravette opened up scoring in the first inning when Rhett Hilger singled on a 1-2 count, scoring Gunnar Woolard, who had walked. Gravette scored two more runs in the third and solo runs in the fourth and the fifth before Harrison took the upper hand in the game.
Holden Betz was the starting pitcher for Gravette. The right-hander allowed no hits and one run over one inning, striking out three. McCoy Kildow and Gunnar Woolard entered the game as relief, throwing three innings and two innings, respectively.
The Lions had nine hits in the game. Kildow and Hilger each managed two, and Kildow had two RBIs.