PHOTOS: Heritage blows by Springdale Har-Ber, 13-7

NWA Democrat-Gazette/BEN GOFF @NWABENGOFF Gabbie Smith, Springdale Har-Ber catcher, slides in at second after being tagged out by Jo Patten (left), Rogers Heritage shortstop, after the ball was fielded by Sydney Price, Rogers Heritage second baseman, in the sixth inning Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Veterans Park in Rogers.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/BEN GOFF @NWABENGOFF Gabbie Smith, Springdale Har-Ber catcher, slides in at second after being tagged out by Jo Patten (left), Rogers Heritage shortstop, after the ball was fielded by Sydney Price, Rogers Heritage second baseman, in the sixth inning Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Veterans Park in Rogers.

ROGERS -- Rogers Heritage wasn't deterred by an early five-run deficit Tuesday.

The Lady War Eagles countered with 11 consecutive runs and went on to defeat Springdale Har-Ber 13-7 in 6A-West Conference action at Veterans Park.

Heritage trailed 5-0 before scoring three runs in the third inning and eight runs in the fourth. Allyson Fultz had a two-run single in the fourth inning followed by a two-run home run by Maddie Pollock.

No. 9 hitter Paige Morrall went 4-for-4 for Heritage. It was another impressive showing for the sophomore catcher, a left-handed batter who began the season hitting right-handed.

"She wasn't even in the lineup at the beginning of the year," Heritage coach Tiffany Taylor said. "We turned her around (batting) and taught her how to slap. She's done a tremendous job."

Emily Bartlett hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning for Har-Ber, but the Lady Wildcats could not regain the momentum from their fast start.

The game was an important matchup between teams trying to qualify for postseason play. Heritage (4-13, 4-5 6A-West) moved two wins ahead of Har-Ber (6-12, 2-7), which began the night in the sixth and final playoff spot for the Class 6A state tournament.

"We didn't lay down," Taylor said. "We battled back and made it happen. I was proud of them for doing that."

Walks and errors led to Har-Ber's demise Tuesday.

The Lady Wildcats still led 5-3 when Shelby Swaffar walked consecutive batters to begin the fourth inning. Har-Ber committed two errors on the infield, including a dropped fly ball at shortstop that allowed Heritage to take the lead. Fultz lined a two-run single to left field, followed by a run-scoring single from Grace Pingel.

Pollock then smacked a two-run home run to left-center field to put Heritage ahead 11-5.

Har-Ber held a 5-0 lead after two innings. Swaffar had an RBI double in the first inning, followed by consecutive doubles by Jacey Ewert and Gabbie Smith that produced a second run. Sophie Wood and Emily Bartlett added RBI singles in the second and another run came home on an error.

Springdale Har-Ber 014 020 0 --7 9 4

Rogers Heritage 003 820 X --13 10 3

Swaffar and Smith; Paulo, Fultz (4) and Morrall. W -- Fultz L -- Swaffar. HR -- Bartlett, Pollack.

Bentonville West 15, Springdale High 0

West scored at least four runs in each of the first three innings as the Lady Wolverines notched a 6A-West Conference win at J.B. Hunt Park.

Emily Roberson, Anna Randolph, Sydney Sneed and Annabelle Bonds each drove in two runs for West (16-2, 9-1). Emma Wood pitched one inning and allowed one hit while striking out two, while Elise Sokolsky threw two hitless innings and struck out three.

Bentonville High 15, Van Buren 0

Megan Crownover and Emily Perry each hit a home run as Bentonville cruised to a victory over Van Buren.

Perry hit a two-run home run and Riley Hayes added a two-run single to spark a five-run first for the Lady Tigers (), then Crownover made it 8-0 with her three-run shot in the third.

Perry finished with three RBIs, while Rebekah Brandon added two as Bentonville banged out 11 hits. Cailey Cochran and McKenzie Vaughan took care of the Lady Pointers as they combined for a four-inning no hitter with nine strikeouts.

Rogers High 9, Fayetteville 0

Madison Heinle tossed a no-hitter and struck out 16 to lead the Lady Mounties to the win over the Lady Purple Bulldogs.

Rogers broke open a tight game with a five-run top of the sixth to take a 7-0 lead. Courtney Storey had a two-run double in the inning and the Lady Mounties (11-2) took advantage of two Fayetteville errors.

Lead-off hitter Cassie Gonzalez and Journee Zito had two hits each for Rogers. Gonzalez drove in two runs and scored twice, while Zito scored three times. Storey drove in three runs.

Sports on 04/17/2019

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