Bryant girls disappointed by outcome against Benton

Photos by Rick Nation and Kevin Nagle

By Bridget Bauer

Photo by Kevin Nagle

BRYANT — Although Bryant outhit Benton in a conference showdown this past Thursday, the Lady Hornets couldn’t get runs across the plate and lost 3-0.

Bryant (12-5, 7-2 6A/7A-South) smacked six hits to the Lady Panthers’ four singles. In addition to four singles, the Lady Hornets whacked two doubles but left eight runners stranded including bases loaded in the sixth frame.

“We just couldn’t score,” Bryant Coach Debbie Clark said. “A lot of times, we had runners on with two outs, and it is hard to score then.”

Benton tallied its first run in the second inning on a fielder’s choice. The score stayed that way until the fifth stanza when the Lady Panthers added two more insurance runs on two hits. Meanwhile, the Lady Hornets left four runners on base and then loaded the bases in the sixth.

Shayla McKissock relays to first after a force at second. (Photo by Rick Nation)

“We were upset after the game, and the girls were crying,” Clark said. “I told them they don’t want to forget that feeling. It’s a feeling they cannot forget.”

Tori Hernandez and Julie Ward paced Bryant with two hits apiece. Ward was responsible for one of the doubles and added a single while Hernandez slapped two one-base hits. Kaley Coppock doubled in the first inning, a Katy Stillman singled in the seventh.

Abby Staton took the loss in four and a two-third innings and gave up all the hits while striking out one and walking three. Jordan Williams yielded one base on balls in her two and a third innings.

“We tried to get Abby five innings, and we did,” Clark said. “She is understanding the verbage. When I went out to her (in fifth inning) she said she had the next batter. But, she gave up a base hit, and then she said okay come get me.”

Bryant hosts Conway in a makeup game Thursday and then travels to Sylvan Hills on Friday. Both are non-conference contests.