Prairie Grove wins see-saw battle with Siloam Springs

PRAIRIE GROVE — Prairie Grove’s 9-7 nonconference softball win over Siloam Springs Thursday featured three lead changes and a sensational bases-clearing double by sophomore Angelina Petersen.

Both teams scored in three innings and each produced a 4-run inning as they exchanged counter punches.

“If we can throw strikes and make people hit the ball we’ll make plays. We just got to be a little more consistent and get better as we go,” said Prairie Grove coach Dave Torres. “I think we’re making strides. We’ve gotten better since playing Farmington.”

The Lady Panthers (5-8, 2-4 5A West) scored 4 runs in the top of the first inning. Prairie Grove (4-13, 0-2 4A-1) answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the first, then captured a 5-4 lead with 3 runs in the second inning.

“This group has always done that. Getting behind doesn’t bother us. They play hard, they don’t quit. Sometimes we just run out of innings. Today we were lucky enough to have a good pitching performance from Calley Lowery our starter, keeping us in the game and we got the win,” Torres said.

Siloam Springs offset that by pushing a pair of runs across in the top of the third and grabbed a 6-5 lead.

The Lady Tigers regained the lead with 4 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Burkeley Calvert led off with a single. Payton Spatz walked on 4-straight pitches.

The Lady Panthers recorded the first out when Ivey Sparkman popped up in front of the plate and the catcher snagged it.

Kinnison Hamilton’s RBI single into right field tied the score at 6-6.

Her sister, Kimber Hamilton, reached a full count, fouled off two pitches, then took ball-4 and walked, bringing up Petersen with the bases loaded. Petersen tripled on a 3-2 pitch scoring 3 runs. She went to third on the throw home.

“I was thinking we have one out. We really need this hit and I just thought get the bat on the ball and we’ll be good,” Petersen said.

Petersen attributed successful base running to a blend of a gut feeling and hearing the voice of her head coach directing her.

“Part of it was instinct, but it was also listening to Coach Torres and he helped me a lot,” Petersen said.

The 4-run outburst pushed Prairie Grove into a 9-6 lead.

“That was a big hit, the first big hit we’ve had in a little bit, got the dugout going, gave us a little confidence, kind of good to see when you have a young team,” Torres said.

Siloam Springs eased out of the inning with a strikeout and by fielding a pop up to second base.

The Lady Panthers’ Brooklyn Spencer reached on an error to start the fifth inning. She moved to second on Aveary Speed’s sacrifice bunt, and scored on Kayleigh Castaneda’s groundout that the Lady Tigers nearly turned into a double play.

That run brought Siloam Springs within 9-7 and the Lady Panthers got another base runner on when Blair Morris reached on an error.

Prairie Grove starter Calley Lowery ended the threat by getting Aspeyn Downing to fly out to left field.

A base running error hurt the Lady Tigers in the bottom half of the inning. That loomed large when Siloam Springs turned a double play. A ground ball was fielded with the third baseman making a tag and throwing out a runner at first.

The base running error served as a teaching moment for Torres.

“It happens, but we learn from it and hopefully it doesn’t happen again,” Torres said.

Kaidence Prendergast doubled off the left field wall with two outs in the sixth, but was left stranded when Lauren Dawdy hit a grounder that Prairie Grove infielder Kinnison Hamilton came off first to field, then tossed to the second baseman covering the bag at first for her.

Lowery retired the Lady Panthers in order in the seventh by inducing three consecutive groundouts to Sparkman playing shortstop for Prairie Grove.

Sparkman didn’t feel any pressure. She lives for those opportunities to line up at shortstop and be in position to make a play. There’s no other spot on the field where she’d rather play.

“I know that I’ve got my teammates backing me up,” Sparkman said. “Shortstop is where I feel most comfortable. I like turning double plays and making throws off the run, so it’s really fun.”

Torres hailed the consistency of Sparkman for executing on what coaches like to term “routine plays.”

“She played a lot last year as a freshman and even though she’s a 10th grader she’s played two years now. She’s one of our leaders and did a great job in the field for us, kept us in the game,” Torres said.

The Lady Tigers could be a dangerous team come tournament time.

“I’m hoping so. That’s what we’re shooting for, but we’ll have to wait and see. We’ve had a couple weeks to get better but that’s our goal,” Torres said.