Lady Backs sneak past Genoa, 5-4

TEXARKANA, Ark. — After both teams battled to a 4-4 tie through five innings, Lady Back freshman Jewel Smart delivered the go-ahead, twoout RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to propel Arkansas High to a comefrom-behind 5-4 victory over Genoa Central Tuesday on AHS’ diamond.

Smart finished the game with two hits in four at-bats, slapping a pair of RBI-singles. It was the first win of the season for the Lady Backs, who are now 1-4 overall. Genoa Central falls to 7-2 on the season.

Arkansas High’s Aniya Arnold, also a freshman, sparked the final rally with a bunt single after two quick outs by the Lady Dragon defense. A stolen base and a wild pitch later set up Smart for the timely base hit.

Genoa Central rallied its way to a 4-2 advantage in the third inning after Arkansas High initially took the lead in the early going.

The Lady Backs loaded the bases against G-C’s Gracie Fowler in the second frame by way of three walks, and then got back-to-back RBI-singles from Taylor Pascarella and Arnold to jump out in front, 2-0.

The Dragons answered quickly against Lady Backs starter Macie Lee and the Arkansas High defense, which committed two errors during the scoring spree. Genoa Central collected a lead-off double from Lindsay Gammon, as well as run-scoring singles from Brailey Tefteller and Brynley Ward to pull ahead. Gammon was 2-for-3 on the night, also adding a single.

The Lady Backs broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning to knot the contest at four runs apiece. Smart and Lee came through with RBI-singles after Hailey Sherk drew a leadoff walk, followed by more singles from Pascarella and Arnold.

That would be the only damage the rest of the way for the Dragons.

Lee, the Lady Backs southpaw, would go on to limit the visitors to just two hits and rack up six strikeouts over the final three innings. Lee finished the complete game with 11 total punchouts, while allowing only five hits. Lee also aided her cause with three singles.

Fowler absorbed the loss for the Dragons, while Anna McCrary added a base hit.

Arkansas High will be in tournament play Thursday-Saturday in Hope, Arkansas, to finish their week’s schedule of play.