The Siloam Springs softball team lost its 10th straight ballgame Thursday against Alma, but Lady Panthers head coach Scott Wright came away encouraged with his team's performance.
Alma's Kla Criswell hit a pair of home runs as the Airedalettes defeated Siloam Springs 9-2 at La-Z-Boy Sports Complex.
The start of the game was delayed two hours waiting for the umpires to show up.
The Lady Panthers (2-12, 0-8 7A/6A-Central) fell to 0-3 versus 6A competition with three games remaining to determine their postseason fate.
Wright said the Lady Panthers -- who have struggled with injuries, including to starting pitcher Crissa Spry -- did a much better job of battling Thursday against Alma than they have in recent games.
"Our girls tonight competed like I've been looking for all season," Wright said. "They did that at the beginning. We've had to go through a lot of stuff with some injuries and other things, but I feel like our girls are kind of finding their rhythm again. They competed tonight."
Siloam Springs fell behind 3-0 in the first inning when Criswell hit a three-run home run. The Airedalettes made it 5-0 with two more runs in the third.
Siloam Springs scored its only two runs in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 5-2.
Spry reached on a single and Morgan Curtis doubled to put two runners on. Hannah Evans' double drove home Spry and Curtis scored on an RBI groundout by Shayla Simmons.
Alma (14-7-1, 5-4) scored three runs in the sixth to go up 8-2 and added another run in the seventh on Criswell's home run.
Alma would have had another home run but Spry robbed a home run off the bat of Abbye Ostrander in the sixth inning.
"Crissa went over the fence and literally jumped and robbed a home run," Wright said. "It was a great play. It was a lot of fun to watch. I was just really proud with how our girls competed tonight."
Alma improved to 3-1 versus 6A competition and likely clinched a 6A postseason spot according to Alma coach Charla Parrish.
"We hit the ball farily decent today after waiting two hours to get to play," Parrish said. "It was one of those freaky things with umpires, just a miscommunicaiton, but a win's a win and we'll take it."
Evans (0-7) took the loss for Siloam Springs.
Offensively, Curtis and Ally Bunc each had two hits, including a double apiece. Evans, Kenlie Noel, Morgan Pack and Spry each had base hits.
"Honestly, Alma is as good as any team we've played," Wright said. "We went seven innnings with them and we left players on base where that could have been a really good game. Alma had about three or four runs that scored with two outs where it was borderline plays that could have been made. We were right there tonight. I felt good about that. Our girls, we felt good that they competed well. That was a lot closer than the scoreboard said."
Gravette 15, Siloam Springs 5
GRAVETTE -- The Lady Panthers dropped a nonconference softball game at Gravette on Tuesday in six innings.
Siloam Spring started the game well scoring two runs in the top of the first inning, but Gravette scored at least one run in every inning to run-rule the Lady Panthers.
Gravette (11-6) cut the lead to 2-1 in the first and then went ahead 6-2 in the second. The Lady Lions scored two runs in the third, four in the fourth, one in the fifth and two more in the sixth.
The Lady Panthers scored two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth.
Offensively, Siloam Springs had 10 hits. Morgan Pack and Morgan Curtis each went 3 for 4 with a double. Pack had three RBIs.
Hannah Evans had a hit and an RBI, while Shayla Simmons had an RBI.
Evans (0-6) took the loss, going 5 1/3 innings, giving up eight hits, seven walks and three hit batters. The Lady Panthers committed seven errors defensively.
Up next
The Lady Panthers were scheduled to compete in their home tournament -- the Lady Panther Invitational -- on Saturday. Results were not available at presstime.
The Lady Panthers' nonconference game against Gentry, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday, was moved a day ahead to Monday.
Siloam Springs will return to conference action on Wednesday against Russellville.
Sports on 04/26/2015