VICKSBURG – St. Aloysius had West Lincoln’s Lady Bears on the ropes Monday but they couldn’t shut the door. West Lincoln scored the winning run in the top of the ninth inning and third baseman Malori Hall stabbed a line drive to kill St. Al’s rally, allowing the Lady Bears to escape with a 5-4 decision.

West Lincoln (10-9, 3-1) battles Bogue Chitto tonight in a Region 7-1A softball showdown at the Cow Palace. Junior varsity starts at 5:30, followed by the varsity.

The Lady Flashes rushed to a 3-0, first-inning lead. West Lincoln used a 3-run fourth to take a 4-3 advantage. St. Al tied the game in the bottom of the sixth.

In the ninth inning, with the international tie-breaker rule in effect, West Lincoln’s Destinhy Allen was placed on second base. Katie Hester’s bunt advanced Allen to third base. Brianna Fauver was next up and she bunted for an infield single as Allen raced home with the winning run.

The Lady Bears stepped up on defense in the bottom of the ninth.

“We got a key strikeout on the first batter,” said West Lincoln coach Andrew Redd. “There were (St. Al) runners at second and third with two outs. The next batter hit a smash but Malori Hall stabbed a line drive at third base to get the final out.

“With that shot, they definitely would have scored those two runs.”

Micah Redd (6K, 1BB) was the winning pitcher. She gave up 7 hits.

Offensively, Hall singled and doubled. Layton Sills and Fauver singled twice. Karley Smith, Heather Moak and Allen singled.

Avery Parham (5K, 3BB) was the losing pitcher. She gave up 9 hits.

St. Al was led by Allie Willis who tripled and Mallory McGuffie who doubled. Parham singled twice. Michelle Howington, Brooklyn Richards and Madison Heggins singled.