By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Sylvan Hills Lady Bears gave up an early 4-2 lead and three runs in the bottom of the sixth to drop an 8-5 decision at Searcy on Friday.
The Lady Bears (7-4, 4-0) scored in the top of the first before giving up two runs in the bottom of the second. They then posted three runs in the third, but that lead evaporated in the bottom of the same inning when the Lady Lions scored two runs.
The game’s first run came after a leadoff single by Cara Pozza. Tristen Goodson sacrificed her to second and a drop moved her to third on the same play. Storm Ellis then singled to drive in the go-ahead run.
Searcy took the lead on a single by Katelyn Thomason, a triple by Jordyn Dawkins and a sacrifice fly by Sara Grace Weaver.
Pozza drew a leadoff walk in the fourth and Goodson singled with no outs to put runners on the corners and start the Lady Bears’ three-run rally. Ellis grounded out to second, but Pozza scored on the play. Taylor Yeoman then singled to score Goodson and give Sylvan Hills a 3-2 lead.
After a Joy Franco strikeout, Doma’Nique Hunt reached on an error that also allowed Yeoman to score for a 4-2 Lady Bear lead.
Searcy tied it on a single by Reagan Feltrop, a triple by Maegan Pistokache and a sac fly by Gabby Tipton. The Lady Lions took the lead in the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back no-out singles, followed by a sacrifice bunt and then a base hit by Pistokache that made it 5-4 Searcy.
Hunt hit a leadoff double for Sylvan Hills in the top of the sixth and Madalyn Hogue took her place on the base paths. She moved to second on a groundout to shortstop by Lynlee Broadway, and moved to third on a sacrifice by Anna Sigler. Madison Shelton then hit a routine pop up to second base, but it was mishandled and Hogue scored to tie the game.
The Lady Lions then scored three runs off three hits, an error and a walk in the bottom of the sixth. Sylvan Hills went down in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.
Searcy out-hit Sylvan Hills 12-7 with Pistokache going 4 for 4 with a triple and four RBIs. No one for Sylvan Hills had more than one base hit, and Ellis led in production with two RBIs.
Broadway threw five innings for the Lady Bears. She gave up nine hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Ellis threw the sixth, giving up three hits with no strikeouts and a walk. Pistokache threw all seven innings for the Lady Lions, giving up three earned runs with six strikeouts.
