Staff photo by Mike Buhler Senath-Hornersville's Megan Smith (right) scores on a wild pitch as Caruthersville pitcher Jane Clare Maners goes for the ball during Thursday's Bootheel Conference game at Senath. [Click to enlarge]

SENATH, Mo. -- Trailing by three runs in the middle of the third inning, Bradley Sneed could be forgiven for being pessimistic about his team's chances.

Turns out that pessimism was a little premature.

"I kind of thought it was going to be one of those games where you get down early and end up getting beat, but we managed to get key hits with runners on," the Senath-Hornersville coach said. "I told them between innings that we could score runs if we got on base. They did what they were told and pulled through."

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Senath-Hornersville's Hannah Kennedy delivers a pitch against Caruthersville during Thursday's game at Senath. [Click to enlarge]

The Lady Lions did just that, rallying for three runs each in the fourth and sixth innings to pull out a 10-6 win over the Caruthersville Lady Tigers in a Bootheel Conference game here Thursday.

"It was a really big conference win for us," Senath-Hornersville senior Kasey Mara said. "It was a good game we really needed to win. Our pitcher pitched a great game and our defense backed her up pretty good."

Lady Lions' hurler Hannah Kennedy shut out Caruthersville (5-4) over the final four innings, allowing just three hits and one walk as here defense made just one error behind her down the stretch.

"She's a good asset to our team," said Senath-Hornersville senior Katelyn Gibson. She gets us out of tough situations and she did that again today, especially with runners in scoring position."

Trailing 6-4 entering the bottom of the fourth inning, Senath-Hornersville (4-3) rallied. Mara walked and later scored on Jena Payne's base hit to make it a one-run game, then Gibson singled to right to drive home Payne and Megan Smith and stake the Lady Lions to a 7-6 lead.

Gibson finished the day 2-for-4 with five RBIs to pace the Lady Lions' offense.

"Katelyn's been swinging the bat well recently," Sneed said. "When she shortens her swing, she's one of the better hitters around."

Mara made it an 8-6 Senath-Hornersville lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when she scored on a passed ball, then Gibson's second two-run single of the day plated Payne and Smith again to push the lead to 10-6 and set the final score.

"Katelyn finally got her hits going," said Mara. "She's been struggling a little bit, but today she seemed to get in a flow."

Payne and Smith were each 2-for-3 with three runs scored, while McKenzie Harris was 2-for-4 and Mara added a pair of runs as she singled and walked twice for the Lady Lions.

"They were a tough team," Gibson said. "We hit the ball where we needed to hit it to get runs and came through in the clutch."

Allison Gardner was 3-for-4 to lead Caruthersville, while Jonny Marie Johnson was 2-for-with four stolen bases.

Senath-Hornersville is set to host Portageville today at 4:30 p.m.

Baseball
Delta C7 11, Gideon 5
At Deering, the host Chargers (3-5, 3-4 Tri-County) got six strong innings on the mound from James Blanton to down visiting Gideon.

Blanton allowed just two earned runs in six innings of work while striking out nine before giving way to Sloan Richardson in the seventh inning.

Cody Dudley had a pair of hit for Delta, while Richardson was 1-for-4.

South Pemiscot 11, Senath-H'ville 10
At Steele, the host Bulldogs rallied for a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to send it to extra innings, then scored in the bottom of the eighth to win the game and secure the top seed in next week's Bootheel Conference Tournament.

Senath-Hornersville led 10-9 entering the bottom of the seventh before South Pemiscot rallied.

Heath Horvath had a pair of doubles for the Lions, while Ernesto Garza and Dustin Hunter each had a pair of hits.