Lady Lions outrun Lady Wolverines in win
GRAVETTE — Fans gathered at the Lady Lion Softball Field in Gravette March 28 to support their Gravette Lady Lions in a nonconference softball contest with the Centerton-based Bentonville West Lady Wolverines. In a back and forth battle that eventually favored the home team, the Lady Lions, in the bottom of the sixth inning, took the win by two runs.
The Lady Wolverines hit paydirt in the top of the first inning with a run that gave Bentonville West the early lead. Two more runs put Bentonville West on top by three in the top of the second.
But the Lady Wolverines did not have time to savor their lead when the Lady Lions brought home a pair of runs in the bottom of the second and three runs in the third to take over the lead from the Lady Wolverines by two.
Bentonville West was not ready to give up just yet as the team scored three more runs in the top of the fourth to retake its earlier lead by one. And as it was in the bottom of the third, three runs in the fourth propelled Gravette back into the lead for good.
Leading 9-6 in the top of the seventh, the Bentonville West Lady Wolverines had one final chance to recapture the lead but managed only one more run as the Gravette Lady Lions claimed the victory, 9-7.
Kelsey Pembleton and Brook Handle led the way in the batting department with two runs and two hits, followed by Meghan Woodmancy with two runs. Brynn Romine, Page Greer and Sydney Kildow had one run each.
Taking the mound for the Lady Lions was Brooke Handle. Handle lasted four innings, delivering 70 pitches. She allowed six runs on eight hits, while walking two and striking out three. Kildow completed the game, lasting the remaining three innings and delivering 52 pitches. Kildow allowed one run on three hits while walking three and striking out two.
Gravette barely had 24 hours to savor the win when it was back to Lady Lion Softball Field for a tough conference fight with Farmington in a wild game that saw the Lady Cardinals bring in 13 runs in the top of the ninth to take the win by nine.
In the bottom of the first inning, Keeley Elsea grounded out, scoring the first run of the night for Gravette. Farmington answered in the top of the third, picking up two runs for its first lead of the night by one. By the end of the regulation seven innings, the game was tied at 10 all, sending the game into extra innings.
Neither team was able to score in the eighth. But the Lady Cardinals rallied in the top of the ninth to bring home 13 runs and regain the lead for the final time.
Gravette tried to get back with a rally of its own but only managed four runs, giving Farmington the conference win, 23-14.
Woodmancy and Pembleton led the way in the hitting department with three runs on two hits each, followed by Romine with two runs on three hits and Kildow with two runs on two hits. Handel and Trinity Burnett each had one run.
Handle took the mound once again for the Lady Lions. Handle completed 7.1 innings, delivering a total of 140 pitches. She allowed 14 runs on 18 hits while walking six, striking out nine, and allowing one home run.
Kildow relieved Handle, completing the remaining 1.2 innings and throwing 52 pitches. Kildow allowed eight runs on six hits (six earned runs) while walking three, striking out two and allowing one home run.