Riverside rallied from a 7-0 deficit for a come from behind 13-10 victory over Manila in high school softball action Thursday, March 16, at Lake City.
The Lady Lions scored a run in the first before plating six more in the second to go up seven. The Lady Rebels began their comeback, scoring a single run in the bottom half of the second, before adding five more in the third, closing the gap to 7-6. Manila picked up a run in the top of the fourth, but watched Riverside score three times in the bottom of the inning to grab their first lead of the game, 9-7. The Lady Rebels weren't finished, scoring two runs in both the fifth and six innings to take a 13-8 lead into the top of the seventh. Manila pushed across a pair of runs in an effort to rally, but fell short.
Katie Towery earned the victory for Riverside, working seven innings, giving up 10 runs on 11 hits while striking out 11 Lady Lions. Carson Smith, Delaney George and Mallory Felton led the Lady Rebel offensive attack. Smith doubled three times, singled, drove in a run and crossed the plate on three occasions. George doubled, singled twice, and had three RBIs. Felton had a pair of singles and a triple and scored four runs. Carmen Campbell belted an RBI double and scored a run. McKenna Beach had an RBI single and scored a run. Towery singled and scored a run while Bailey Fisher crossed the plate twice.
Tessa Pannells suffered the loss, working 3 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs, three earned, on seven hits. Sasha Pannells finished the game, going 2 1/3 innings, giving up five runs, four earned on three hits.
Ashley Rothwell singled, doubled, tripled, drove in two runs, and scored twice. Taylor Hampton singled, doubled and scored a run while Tessa Pannells had a bases-loaded double. Madison Bibbs walloped a two-run double and scored once, Sasha Pannells cracked an RBI double and scored a run while Ali Smith raked an RBI single and scored once. Jill Helton bashed a triple and scored twice while Ashlyn Jolly crossed the plate twice.
On Saturday, March 18, the Lady Lions defeated Elkins 5-2 at Batesville in a three-inning contest. Sasha Pannells went the distance to pick up the win, allowing two earned runs on three hits. Bibbs doubled in a run and scored once while Smith added an RBI single. Tessa Pannells had an RBI and scored a run while Hampton, Jolly and Sydney Adcock all scored runs.
In the second game of the afternoon, Yellville-Summit hammered Manila 10-1. The Lady Panthers jumped on Manila, scoring eight runs in the first inning. Tessa Pannells pitched 2/3 of an inning, giving up eight runs, three hits and six walks in taking the loss. Sasha Pannells worked the final inning and 1/3, allowing two earned runs and one hit. Smith delivered the Lady Lions' only run of the contest with an RBI single, scoring Bibbs.
Manila finished the day with a 5-3 loss to Harding Academy. The Lady Lions led 3-0 after the first inning before the Lady Wildcats rallied, scoring three times in the second and twice in the third to pull out the victory.
Tessa Pannells went three innings in absorbing the loss, allowing four earned runs on four hits. Hampton ripped a two-run single while Tessa Pannells added an RBI base hit and scored a run. Sasha Pannells singled and scored once while Bibbs crossed the plate once.
Harrisburg shutout Manila 17-0 last Tuesday at Lion Field. The Lady Hornets scored 11 times in the first inning and coasted to the victory.
Tessa Pannells and Rothwell had Manila's only two hits.
Manila will begin a busy week, hosting Marked Tree on Monday. The Lady Lions will travel to Osceola Tuesday before entertaining the Lady Seminoles on Thursday. Manila travels to Armorel Friday and will participate in the Cougar Slam at Izard County Consolidated Saturday.
Riverside will journey to Hoxie for a Monday afternoon game. The Lady Rebels play host to Gosnell on Tuesday before going to Osceola Wednesday. Riverside will host Rivercrest Thursday before traveling to Corning to close out the week on Friday.