Bryant falls late to Bville West

BENTONVILLE – Going up against one of the best teams in the state in the West No. 1 seed Bentonville West Lady Wolverines, the Central No. 4 seed Bryant Lady Hornets gave them all they could handle in the quarterfinals of the 6A State Tournament Friday in Bentonville.

The Lady Hornets (19-13) had the Wolverines (23-3) on the ropes, leading 3-2 late, but Bentonville came back to claim a 5-3 win over Bryant to end the Lady Hornets’ season.

Bentonville actually took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single in the bottom of the first and went up 2-0 with a sacrifice fly in the third, but the Lady Hornets would get things going in the top of the fifth inning, with a little help from Bentonville West. Juniors Alissa Suarez and Haleigh Beck were both issued walks to start before sophomore Bella Herring reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Senior Meagan Chism followed with an RBI single two

batters later before junior Maddie Thompson had a two-out single to tie things up as Chism was thrown out at home.

In the top of the sixth, the Lady Hornets took their

first lead of the game when Suarez powered one out over the right-field fence, making the Wolverines sweat down 3-2 to Bryant, but Bentonville West came through in the clutch in the bottom of the inning when Hallie Wacaser hit a two-out, 3-run home run to give the Wolverines a 5-3 lead, which held.

Chism reached on a twoout single in the top of the seventh, but a bunt out to the pitcher ended the game and Bryant’s season.

Suarez finished 2 for 2 with two runs and a homer, Chism was 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Thompson, Regan Dillon and Herring all added a hit in the tough loss.

Junior Hannah Work gave up two runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks in 3.1 innings, while freshman Christine Mefford gave up three runs on five hits vs. no walks, striking out one in 2.2 innings.

The Lady Hornets will be losing seniors Aly Bowers, Lexi Helton, Henessae Shavers and Chism to graduation.