Siloam Springs didn't do itself any favors defensively against Gentry in a nonconference softball game Monday night.
The Lady Panthers committed five errors, which included a few dropped fly balls, that led to two big innings for Gentry in a 10-6 loss at La-Z-Boy Sports Complex.
"We had lots of chances," said Siloam Springs coach Scott Wright. "At the end of the day, you can't drop fly balls. Forget the rest of the stuff, if we don't drop fly balls, we win the game. It's that simple because those innings led to too many runs."
Leading 1-0, the Lady Pioneers (4-8) took advantage of a dropped fly ball with two outs in the fourth inning, leading to three unearned runs and a 4-0 lead. With two outs, Gentry's Alyssa Kelton reached on a walk and Brooke Boston also reached when Larissa Tillery was unable to corral a pop fly at second.
Jaime Pierce came up next for Gentry and roped a two-run triple for a 3-0 lead. Pierce then scored on an RBI single by Taylor Hull.
Siloam Springs (3-15) got a run back in the bottom of the fourth when Morgan Curtis doubled to lead off the inning and scored on Hannah Evans' RBI single to make it 4-1.
The Lady Pioneers tacked on five more runs in the fifth to go up 9-1. Mackensi Sweeten singled, but Lady Panthers pitcher Crissa Spry retired the next two batters and had a chance to get out of the inning, but an error kept the inning alive and Gentry took advantage.
Kelton singled to score Sweeten and Boston followed with a single to score Mycah Turtle, who had reached on the error, and Kelton, for a 7-1 lead.
Pierce then crushed a two-run home run to center field -- her second home run of the season -- for a 9-1 lead.
"We struggled in the beginning of the year learning how to finish a game," said Gentry coach Lance Nations. "We've been up in many games but never been able to finish it. Here recently, towards the end of the season, the last three games we've played we've been able to finish ballgames and come out with a win, so that's good."
Curtis answered with a two-run home run to left in the bottom of the fifth, scoring Spry who had reached on a single.
Gentry scored its final run in the sixth and Siloam Springs plated three in the bottom of the seventh.
Spry was hit by a pitch to lead off the seventh and Evans was also hit by a pitch. Simmons scored both with a two-run double and Ally Bunch had a sacrifice fly later in the inning to set the final score.
Pierce had two hits and four RBIs for Gentry, while Kelton, Boston and Hull each had two hits. The Lady Pioneers finished with 10 hits as a team.
The Lady Panthers also had 10 hits. Simmons lead Siloam Springs with three hits and two RBIs, while Curtis had a pair of hits and a pair of RBIs. Heidi Fernandez also had two hits, while Morgan Pack, Spry and Evans each had hits.
Spry (2-5) took the loss in her first pitching outing in several weeks. She had nine strikeouts but also walked eight batters.
Kelton got the win for Gentry. She had four strikeouts with one walk and three hit batters.
The Lady Pioneers now move on to the 1-4A Conference Tournament on Thursday in Huntsville where they'll play Lincoln.
Siloam Springs hosts Russellville on Wednesday in a 7A/6A-Central Conference game between 6A schools. Both the Lady Panthers and Lady Cyclones are looking for their first win against 6A teams.
"It should be a real fun challenge," Wright said. "As I keep telling the girls, it's opportunity time, and this is a big opportunity for us."
Gentry 10, Siloam Springs 6
Gentry 100 351 0 -- 10 10 2
Siloam Springs 000 120 3 -- 6 10 5
Kelton and Hull; Spry and Curtis. W - Kelton. L - Spry, 2-5. SV - None. HRs - Gentry, Pierce (2); Siloam Springs, Curtis (3).
FS Southside wins Lady Panther Invitational
Siloam Springs defeated Fort Smith Southside 6-4 in five innings in its first game on Saturday. But the Lady Panthers were unable to muster any offense the second time around against the Lady Rebels and were eliminated from their home tournament with a 2-0 loss.
Southside, would go on to beat Harrison twice in the championship round 4-0 and 5-0 and win the tournament championship. The Lady Rebels went 6-1 on the day.
Southside (12-9) plated a run in the first inning against Siloam Springs and added another run in the bottom of the fourth.
Siloam Springs mounted its best offensive threat in the fourth inning when Morgan Curtis led off with a leadoff double, but her teammates were unable to drive her in.
Siloam Springs only had two hits with Heidi Fernandez collecting a single in the second inning along with Curtis' hit in the fourth.
Shayla Simmons (0-3) took the loss for Siloam Springs, pitching the first inning and allowing Southside's first run. Hannah Evans pitched the final three innings and allowed one run on three hits.
Kylie Hall picked up the win for Southside and was the pitcher of record in all seven of Southside's games.
FS Southside 2, Siloam Springs 0
Siloam Springs 000 00 -- 0 2 2
FS Southside 100 1X -- 2 4 0
Simmons, Evans (2) and Pack; Hall and Hogue. W - Hall. L - Simmons, 0-3. SV - None. HR - None.
Harrison 7, Siloam Springs 1
After opening the Lady Panther Invitational with the win against Southside, the Lady Panthers dropped a 7-1 game to Harrison in the second game.
The Lady Goblins scored two runs in the first off Shayla Simmons and added single runs in the second and third before scoring three more in the fourth.
Siloam Springs scored its run in the second inning when Hannah Evans doubled and Simmons singled. Heidi Fernandez' single scored Evans.
Siloam Springs committed six errors in the ballgame.
Harrison 7, Siloam Springs 1
Harrison 211 3 --7 6 0
Siloam Springs 010 0 -- 1 4 6
Lavoi and Baker; Simmons and Pack. W - Lavoi. L - Simmons, 0-2. SV - None. HR - None.
Siloam Springs 6, FS Southside 4
Siloam Springs snapped a 10-game losing streak with a dramatic come-from-behind victory against Fort Smith Southside in the Lady Panthers' opening game of their home tournament, the Lady Panther Invitational.
Trailing 2-0 going into the top of the fourth inning and running out of time in the 70-minute limit, the Lady Panthers' bats went to work against the Lady Rebels.
Crissa Spry reached on a base hit and Morgan Curtis followed with a double to put two runners on. Hannah Evans singled and drove in Spry, and the Lady Panthers tied the game 2-2 on a sacrifice fly by Shayla Simmons.
After Evans held Southside scoreless in the bottom half of the inning, the Lady Panthers got going again in the fifth inning.
Kristen Barnett reached on a bunt hit but was thrown out trying to score on a double off the bat of Morgan Pack. Pack moved to third on the throw, and she scored on an RBI hit by Spry. Spry scored on a triple by Morgan Curtis, and Curtis scored on a wild pitch.
Evans hit a solo home run, her second home run of the year, to cap the four-run inning as Siloam Springs took a 6-2 lead.
Southside scored two runs in the bottom half, but Evans got the final out and secured the 6-4 victory for the Lady Panthers. The win was the first this season for Evans (1-7), who pitched a complete game.
Siloam Springs 6, FS Southside 4
Siloam Springs 000 24 -- 6 10 1
FS Southside 101 02 -- 4 6 0
Hall and Hogue; Evans and Pack. W - Evans, 1-7. L - Hall. SV - None. HR - Evans (2).
Up next
The Lady Panthers host Russellville at 5 p.m. Wednesday in an important 7A/6A-Central Conference game between 6A schools. Both the Lady Panthers and Lady Cyclones are winless in conference play and fighting for the third and final 6A-Central playoff seed.
Siloam Springs also plays a conference game on Thursday at 7A Van Buren and at 6A Greenwood on Friday.
Lady Panther Invitational
Saturday, April 25
La-Z-Boy Sports Complex
Game 1: FS Southside 3, Pea Ridge 0
Game 2: Harrison 7, FS Northside 6
Game 3: Siloam Springs 6, FS Southside 4
Game 4: Harrison 5, Fayetteville 3
Game 5: FS Southside 6, FS Northside 0
Game 6: Pea Ridge 5, Fayetteville 1
Game 7: Harrison 7, Siloam Springs 1
Game 8: FS Southside 13, Pea Ridge 6
Game 9: FS Southside 2, Siloam Springs 0
Game 10: Fayetteville vs. FS Northside, canceled
Game 11: FS Southside 4, Harrison 0
Championship: FS Southside 5, Harrison 0
Sports on 04/29/2015