Rogers remains perfect in 3-2 win

“This should give us momentum. West is one of the really good teams in our conference, so this was a really big win today.”

Rogers pitcher Ella Beeman on Tuesday’s victory

ROGERS 3, BENTONVILLE WEST 2

ROGERS — The third inning could have ended in disaster for Rogers High.

After loading the bases with no outs against Bentonville West, the Mounties ran themselves into a double-play and faced the possibility wasting a golden opportunity to take control of the 6A-West Conference clash.

Then Jenna Williams took matters into her own bat. Swinging from the left side of the plate, Williams crushed a double into the left-centerfield gap, plating a pair of runs, then touched the dish on a West error and the Mounties held on from there for a 3-2 win at the new Mounties Field.

“That was the game-winner, no doubt about it,” said Rogers coach Mike Harper. “She hits the ball really well to the opposite field. Overall we executed real well. We made a couple of baserunning mistakes, but I was proud of the way we competed and played.”

Williams’ blast helped Rogers starter Madison Heinle earn the win in the circle. Heinle struck out the first six batters she faced, and ended with nine punchouts over five innings of work.

Ella Beeman came on for Rogers (7-0, 3-0 6A-West) in the sixth and mowed down West to nail down the save. In the seventh, Beeman retired the Wolverines on three straight ground balls back to the mound.

“This has been a really good start to the season,” said Beeman who has alternated starts with Heinle. “This should give us momentum. West is one of the really good teams in our conference, so this was a really big win today.”

After Rogers grabbed the 3-0 lead, West (9-2, 2-1) answered back with two runs in the top of the fourth inning to pull within a run.

Sarah Cooper reached on a one-out bunt single, and West catcher Ryen Rassi was hit by a pitch to put two on. Clean-up hitter Laynee Tapp moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Wolverines’ pitcher Elise Sokolsky delivered a two-run single.

In the sixth, West rallied again as Cooper reached in a swinging bunt off Beeman, and Sokolsky was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Beeman retired West on an off-speed pitch to keep it a one-run game.

Rogers got two on in the bottom of the sixth as Kylee Ward reached on an infield single and Kadence Janney blasted a double off the wall in center. But West turned an unconventional 2-4, 4-2 double-play to end the Mounties’ threat.

Beeman finished it off on the seventh, getting West on three straight ground balls back to the mound.

Sokolsky was solid in the circle for West, allowing five hits with seven strikeouts. There were no walks in the game for either team.

“Certainly there are some areas where we can improve, but I like where we are,” said Harper. “We need to work on more short game. However, to be undefeated at this point in the season, and beating a good team in West today, it’s a great place to be.”

West will return home on Thursday to host Springdale Har-Ber, and Rogers will be on the road at Springdale High.