BALDWYN – Hatley had Baldwyn on the ropes at home. With visiting Hatley leading 8-6 in the bottom of the seventh innings, Baldwyn scored three times and went on to a 9-8 win to improve to 11-7, 3-1 atop the division standings.

“A couple of errors throughout the game hurt us, but the girls played hard,” said Hatley coach Mark Guntharp. “We had an opportunity to win the game. You can't complain.”

In the seventh, Oriana Smith had tripled to right field to score Kaliegh Bishop to pull Baldwyn within one. Hatley intnentionally walked strong hitter Consuela Starks before Mallory Hill's triple to left scored Smith and Starks in the game-winner.

“I definitely feel good about where we're at right now,” Baldwyn coach Jessica Taylor said. “But I told the girls, 'We can't be content, you can't stop. Things could turn around in a heartbeat.'”

Hatley had jumped on top early on. Courtney Fretwell and Lauren Sloan singled and doubled with two outs in the first inning. Lesley Hudson drove them both in with a 2 run single for a 2-0 lead.

In the second, Deanna Wright and Kelsey Wilson provided two-out RBI singles for a 4-0 lead. Baldwyn took a 5-4 lead in the third inning on an RBI single from Smith and a 2 run triple to soggy right field past a diving Courtney Roberts from Starks.

Taylor said Smith has been hitting well, but it was a struggling Hill who got the job done.

“Mallory has struggled a little bit. That kid was due,” Taylor said. “She deserves that big hit.”

Katy Duling's RBI groundout in the fifth inning had gotten Hatley within a run and Wright's sixth inning RBI single evened the game at 6. Jamelle Vance led the inning off with a double. Sloan's two-out double scored Fretwell and Wilson for a two-run lead.

“They did a good job hitting the ball,” Guntharp said of his team. “They did a good job running the bases.”

THE STANDINGS

Hatley wants things to turn around in a heartbeat. Taylor's Lady Bearcats, whose only loss is to New Site inside the division, still has Hatley, Mantachie twice and New Site remaining in division play.

“We're definitely excited, but we know we've got some things to take care of,” Taylor said.

Hatley (10-5) is now 2-3 in division play. Hamilton is 2-2 and Mantachie is 2-2. The Lady Tigers play host to New Site tonight, Baldwyn at home on Thursday and Hamilton at Hamilton on Tuesday.

Only two teams enter the playoffs from each division.