SILOAM SPRINGS -- Morgan Vaughan and the Bentonville offense got on track in the final two innings Thursday against Siloam Springs.
Vaughan slugged a pair of two-run home runs in the sixth and seventh innings and Bentonville turned a close ballgame into a 10-0 win at La-Z-Boy Park.
How They Scored
Bentonville 10, Siloam Springs 0
Bentonville^001^104^4^—^10^14^0
Siloam Springs^000^000^0^—^0^4^4
Vaughan and Fears; Hunt and Sislo. W - Vaughan, 4-0. L - Hunt, 4-5. HRs - Bentonville, Vaughan 2 (3), Fears (1).
The Lady Tigers (4-0) finished with 14 hits for the game, but Bentonville left seven runners on base in taking a 2-0 lead going into the sixth inning.
"Siloam played well. They really did," Bentonville coach Kent Early said. "I honestly don't think that we played as best as we could, but they're part of the reason. They made throws and threw us out, and we made some boneheaded mistakes.
In the sixth, Vaughan launched an opposite field shot as part of a four-run Bentonville inning. She hit another two-run homer to left-center field in the seventh as the Lady Tigers scored four more runs.
Shelby Fears added a solo home run in the seventh for Bentonville.
"In the sixth inning we finally did get a big hit," Early said. "But that's our whole M.O. We're trying to compete at the plate and see pitches and hit the ball hard."
Vaughan (4-0) not only helped the Lady Tigers with her bat but also with her arm. She pitched a complete game shutout with 10 strikeouts despite not having her best stuff, according to Early.
"She didn't have her best stuff (in the circle), but she had good stuff at the plate," Early said. "She definitely made up for it and gave herself a little bit of breathing room."
Vaughan finished 3 for 5 with four RBIs. Emma Kinsey, Jordan Gartman, Fears and Madi Hill each had two hits for Bentonville.
Shayla Simmons led Siloam Springs (6-6) with two hits, while Abi Sislo and Morgan Curtis each had base hits. The Lady Panthers' best scoring opportunity came in the fourth when Sislo and Simmons each reached on back-to-back hits, but Vaughan was able to get Leslie Perry to ground out.
Aside from the final two innings, Lady Panthers head coach Scott Wright was pleased with how his team played compared to Tuesday's 10-1 loss at Rogers Heritage.
"The one thing I liked about that game better than the one Tuesday -- and we talked a lot about it the last couple of days -- was we came out mentally prepared to play," Wright said. "I thought the girls did a good job. They fought through some tough situations. Give Bentonville credit. They're a really good team."
Siloam Springs hosts Gravette at 5 p.m. today at in its final game before spring break. The Lady Tigers are off until April 1 when they play at Rogers High.
Sports on 03/21/2014