Dawson Armstrong used his arm and his bat Thursday to help Siloam Springs pick up an important win.
Armstrong allowed just one hit in 6 1/3 innings and had a two-run single at the plate as the Panthers defeated Greenwood 4-2 in a 7A/6A-Central Conference game between 6A teams at James Butts Baseball Complex.
Zac Bolstad added three hits, an RBI and a save and Kaleb Francis hit a solo home run as Siloam Springs (11-14, 3-9) improved to 2-2 in conference games against 6A competition with two left to play.
"That's what happens when we play how we can play," said Armstrong, a junior left-hander."We just played lights out."
Armstrong pitched brilliantly for the Panthers and carried a 4-0 lead into the seventh inning. Armstrong got the first batter in the seventh to fly out, but he hit one and walked another before being relieved on the mound by Bolstad.
Bolstad gave up a pair of hits which allowed Greenwood to score two runs, but the senior right-hander got the final two outs as the Panthers were able to finish off the victory.
"Like I told the kids, see what happens when we throw strikes and make plays?" said Siloam Springs coach Alan Hardcastle. "We're a good team."
Armstrong (4-2) pitched around a hit batter and two walks in the first three innings, and his defense helped him out, including a diving catch in center field by Dodge Pruitt to end the bottom of the third.
The Panthers then went to work offensively against Connor Noland (3-4) in the bottom of the third.
Senior left fielder Nate Free led off with a bunt single and moved up to second on an error.
"Nate brings an aspect to the game that we don't do a whole lot, which is bunt," Hardcastle said. "He can lay one down and turn and run. He doesn't have a whole lot of luck swinging the bat, but he takes a whole lot of pitches and he can lay a bunt down and he sparked us."
Zac Bolstad also reached on a bunt, moving Free to third, and Bolstad took second base after Free survived a failed Greenwood rundown.
Armstrong then laced a 0-2 Noland curve ball for a single up the middle as Siloam Springs took a 2-0 lead.
Armstrong said the lead helped him out on the mound.
"Yeah it definitely helped," Armstrong said. "He threw me an 0-2 curve ball and to put in two runs gives you a boost of confidence, definitely."
Armstrong set the Bulldogs (10-10, 5-7) down in order in the top of the fourth, and the Panthers added a run in the bottom of the fourth to go up 3-0.
Josh Hunt walked and Landon Nickell pinch ran for the Panthers' junior second baseman. Free reached safely on another bunt hit, and Nickell scored on an RBI hit by Bolstad.
Armstrong retired the side in order again in the fifth and Siloam Springs added to its lead in the bottom of the inning.
Francis, a senior catcher, ripped a Noland fastball that was right down the middle over the left field fence for his first home run of the season and a 4-0 Panthers lead.
Greenwood coach Trey Holloway said the Panthers played a well-rounded game against the Bulldogs.
"You know (Armstrong) did a good job of mixing pitches," Holloway said. "That's the way baseball is sometimes. He did a good job of keeping us off balance, and they made some plays behind him. They had some diving catches in the outfield, a diving catch at third, a couple of good plays up the middle. It happens sometimes. All the credit goes to them. They played well, pitched well, played good defense and had some timely hitting, which is key for baseball."
The win gave a boost to the Panthers' hopes of making the Class 6A playoffs -- something they fell short of last season. Siloam Springs, Greenwood and Alma each went 2-4 in 6A games to tie for the final two playoff spots, but because of tiebreakers the Panthers were the odd team out.
After Thursday's action, Siloam Springs and Greenwood were tied for second at 2-2 as both trail Alma (4-0), which defeated Russellville on Thursday 10-0.
Siloam Springs is scheduled to host Russellville (5-18, 1-11) on Tuesday before playing Alma (10-12) on Senior Night on Friday.
"Like I told them after the game, I don't want to say we're in," Hardcastle said. "We're just going to keep playing hard and finish strong and see if we can't finish out the season with five wins in a row and go into the state tournament on a high note."
Hardcastle said he was "very, very happy" with Thursday night's performance against Greenwood.
"Exciting times man," Hardcastle said. "I tell you what the kids are pumped. I went home after the Bryant game (on Monday), and I couldn't go to bed. I went to bed about three in the morning, just did a lot of thinking. Went back to the drawing board, came out and got them motivated and man I'm excited and happy for them."
Siloam Springs 4, Greenwood 2
Greenwood^000^000^2^--^2^3^4
Siloam Springs^002^110^X^--^4^9^2
Noland and Smith; Armstrong, Bolstad (7) and Francis. W-Armstrong, 4-2. L-Noland, 3-4. Sv-Bolstad (1). HR -- Siloam Springs, Francis (1).
Sports on 05/01/2016