Vian Finishes Fourth in Lady Tiger Shootout

LEA LESSLEY SPORTS WRITER

Vian‚s final-inning rally fell short Saturday afternoon as Spiro hung on for an 8-7 win over the Lady Wolverines in the third-place game of the Central Lady Tiger Shootout.

Vian trailed 8-4 entering the top of the fifth inning. Halli Russell led off the at-bat with a walk and scored on Lakaila Drew‚s RBI triple to the gap in left center field. A pitch hit Maci Smith and one out later the senior scored Vian‚s sixth run when Maisie Wells singled to left field. Hannah Mattingly‚s single to left field loaded the bases and following a flyout the Lady Wolverines scored their seventh run on a throwing error before a strikeout ended the time-limited game.

Spiro registered the first run of the game in the bottom of the first but Vian took a 2-1 advantage in the top of the second on an error, Wells‚ stolen base, Mattingly‚s triple and Kalli Kennedy‚s steal of home.

The Lady Bulldogs erased the deficit with three runs in the bottom of the second before Vian responded with a pair of runs in the top of the third to tie the score at 4-4. Russell stole second after being hit by a pitch and one out later Smith tripled down the first base line to make the score 4-3. Kala Gibbins followed with an RBI single to left field to tie the score at 4-all.

Spiro reclaimed the lead with two runs in the bottom of the third and after the Lady Wolverines were retired in order in the top of the fourth the Lady Bulldogs registered their final runs in their at-bat in the fourth.

In their previous tournament games the Lady Wolverines lost 9-1 to Buffalo Valley on Thursday before shutting out Talihina 7-0 Friday.

LEA LESSLEY •TIMES

Vian second baseman Lakaila Drew throws to first base during Saturday‚s third-place game against Spiro at the Central Lady Tiger Shootout. The Lady Wolverines lost 8-7 to Spiro in the contest.