Lady Tigers rally past GHS

GOSNELL-- The Armorel Lady Tigers came back from a 4-0 deficit to defeat the Gosnell Lady Pirates, 5-4, Monday afternoon at Gosnell.

The two teams split the season series with each team winning on the other's home field.

Abigail McCauley's RBI triple in the top of the fifth scoring Sabrina Luttrell gave Armorel the lead and the Lady Tigers held on for the win. McCauley also picked up the win pitching. The sophomore hurler gave up just two earned runs and seven hits over seven complete innings of work while striking out two. The two strikeouts came in the bottom of the seventh to seal the win.

Gosnell picked up all four of their runs in the bottom of the third, highlighted by run-scoring singles from Christen Houwen and Brista Hinklin.

Houwen tossed seven innings on the mound for the Lady Pirates allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out four in the loss.

Luttrell got the the Lady Tigers going in the fourth. Down, 4-0, Luttrell hit a two-run homer over the left field fence to cut the Pirate lead in half at 4-2. The Lady Tigers took advantage of a couple of Pirate fielding errors leading to a run-scoring single off the bat of Kristen Belford to tie the game up at 4-4.

After a scoreless fourth for the Lady Pirates, Armorel got the go-ahead run in the top of the fifth and held on for the win.

After the bottom of the third, McCauley allowed just two base runners the rest of the game and received some good glove work form her defense in the field, especially second baseman Angel Huffman and left fielder Tia Sellers.

For the game, Luttrell (2-4, home run, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored), McCauley (1-3 with an RBI), Amanda Skelton (1-4) and Holly David (1-4) led the offense for the Tigers.

Houwen (1-4 with a run scored), Hinklin (1-3 with 2 RBIs), Ciera Watson (2-4), Amber Wright (1-4), Jackie Brees (1-4) and Amber Larkin (1-4) collected hits for the Lady Pirates.

Armorel (8-4, 4-0 1A-3 East) hosts Bay at 4 p.m. today, then Thursday entertains Ridgefield Christian in two key 1A-3 East matchups.

Gosnell stays home to take on Cave City at 4 p.m. and Highland on Thursday at 4 p.m. as well.

afitzpatrick@blythevillecourier.com