Lady Wolves Even Series With Win Over Tigers

LINCOLN — Could have had the Heart sisters, Ann and Nancy Wilson, playing in their head, whatever their motivation, Lincoln surged ahead, doing a number on their rivals from Prairie Grove.

Even it up, even it up, even it up, the season softball series stands at one win apiece — thanks to the Lady Wolves’ 14-7 win over the Lady Tigers on April 11.

Perhaps, Lincoln came in remembering one that got away, a 14-13 home loss to Prairie Grove a month earlier on March 14.

Flashback

In March, Lincoln coach Beau Collins started Victoria Hammons in place of Ayden Massey, who was one of two Lady Wolves’ starters out with the flu. Libby Calico came on in relief with one out and the Lady Wolves trailing 11-6 in the top of the sixth. Calico allowed one run on Delaney Boyd’s hit that was misjudged and landed in center field, but got the third out by fielding a ground ball and throwing to first.

That was the second potential catch that eluded Lincoln in the sixth. Anna Kidd started the inning with a single just over the out-stretched glove of Lincoln short stop Kinley Webb, whose foot got stuck in soft mud. She was half-astep away from making a play. Anna Kidd stole second and scored on Ali Edgar’s sacrifice. Maddy Stearman drove in a run to extend Prairie Grove’s lead to 11-6.

Lincoln rallied to take a 13-12 lead in the sixth, but Prairie Grove pushed two runs across in the top of the seventh to regain the lead, at 14-13. In the bottom of the seventh, Lincoln had a runner tagged out trying for an extra base on a bunt. They then got two runners aboard with one out and a passed ball allowed a runner to reach third. But, with the tying run 60 feet away, Prairie Grove held her there while securing the last two outs.

Rematch

A see-saw battle went Lincoln’s way after the Lady Wolves scored 6 runs in the sixth inning to break away from a 1-run, 8-7, lead. Lankford singled with one out. Jada Corbit (3-for-5, 2 doubles, 1 RBI) reached on an error and Madison Jones walked to load the bases. Massey made up for her absence in the first game by smashing a 2-run double. Kinley Webb was hit by a pitch, and Prairie Grove coach Dustin Beck reinserted Maddy Stearman at pitcher. She started and was relieved by Laney Layman in the third after giving up 3 early runs.

Stearman’s first pitch back on the mound resulted in a passed ball and a Lincoln run scored with the bases loaded. Tristan Cunningham (2-for-5) singled to drive in a run and Malorie Pershall (1-for-4) knocked in 2 runs with a double pushing Lincoln’s lead to 14-7.

Lincoln got contributions throughout their lineup. Hollie Webb was 2-for-5 with a double and 3 RBIs. Massey helped her cause going 1-for-3 with a double and 2 RBIs.

Arianna Pickett was 3-for-4 with an RBI, Anna Kidd was 2-of-4 with an RBI, Edgar was 2-of-4 with an RBI, and Madison Vinson was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs to lead the Lady Tigers.

Prairie Grove had more hits (13) than Lincoln (10), but the Lady Wolves’ were timely, driving in 9 runs compared to 6 RBIs for Prairie Grove. Both teams made their share of errors. Lincoln had 5 while Prairie Grove committed 7.