LINCOLN -- Senior Tristan Cunningham made the most of a crucial at-bat parking a two-out grand-slam homer in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Cunningham's bases-loaded home run served as the catalyst to airlift Lincoln, 6-2, past Prairie Grove in a 4A-1 softball game Tuesday, April 10.
Prairie Grove led 2-1 with Lincoln (11-6, 6-2) coming to bat in the sixth. Leadoff batter Ayden Massey reached when her infield hit was bobbled. Malorie Lankford hit a line drive that was caught by Prairie Grove second baseman Reagan Rochier, who also fielded a pop-up by Lincoln relief pitcher Paige Umberson, for consecutive outs.
The next four at-bats provided fans with plenty of drama.
With Madison Jones taking ball-three to reach a full count, Prairie Grove threw to first with Kylie Scott applying a tag to a runner desperately reaching for the bag. Lady Tiger fans thought she was out and Prairie Grove coach Brandy Carte came out of the dugout appealing a safe call by the field umpire. The ruling was upheld and Jones walked to put two Lincoln runners on.
Up next was Kinley Webb, who singled into center field. A quick throw from the outfield prevented a run, but the bases were loaded for Hollie Webb. Hollie Webb connected with a 1-2 pitch and was originally ruled out at first. Lincoln coach Beau Collins appealed and the call was reversed in a conference between the plate and field umpires with Hollie Webb getting an RBI single tying the game at 2-2.
Cunningham stepped into this situation with two outs and the bases still loaded. The senior first baseman took two balls before going yard to clear the bases and push the Lady Wolves ahead, 6-2.
Both coaches pointed to the reversal of the out ruling when Hollie Webb reached first base as a keystone moment in deciding the contest.
"That was hard to take, that was hard to swallow," Carte said, lamenting the Lady Tigers' 11th straight loss as she gave a nod to Cunningham. "That was a nice hit she had in a pressure situation so give her credit for it."
Collins couldn't contain himself, dancing up dust in front of the dugout after his successful appeal telling the Lady Wolves, "Let's go."
"That changed the game," Collins said. "It's good when umpires get together to get the right call. Obviously that kept the door open for us, but it was the hit by Tristan that sealed the game for us."
Prairie Grove got a solo home run by senior Katharine McConnell and an RBI single by Scott. Carte was pleased with her pitchers and praised Lady Tiger batting.
"The girls have been aggressive at the plate, I'm liking what I'm seeing," Carte said.
She maintains optimism that the Lady Tigers (2-14, 2-6), who haven't won since March 9, can sneak up on somebody in the upcoming district tournament hosted by Lincoln April 25-28.
"I think we'll be the quiet Cinderella story in the end," Carte said.
Sports on 04/18/2018