Manchester Academy’s Alley Grace Ables came through with an RBI single to give the Lady Mavericks an 11-10 victory in the season opener vs. rival Benton Academy Monday.
The Lady Raiders took an early lead in the game.
Brynn Blackstock drove in a run with a double, and Kaye Louise Purvis had a two-run single in the first inning.
Maci Lowery had an RBI single in the second inning to extend Benton’s lead to 5-1.
Manchester tied the game in the bottom of the third inning.
Claire Stevens got on base with a single before Morgan Foster was walked and Annabeth Merrell grounded out.
Ables drove in a pair of runs to give MA a 7-5 lead in the fourth inning.
Pitcher Sydney Porter hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead.
BA’s Lura Greco tied the game 9-9 with a single in the seventh inning, and BA pitcher Ella McCain had a sacrifice fly in the eight inning to take back the lead for the Lady Raiders at 10-9.
Claire Beth Martien got on base in with a single in the eighth before Ables had the game-winning single.
Porter struck out eight to earn the win for MA. She also led her team from the plate with three hits, two RBIs and a home run.
Ables, Martien and Merrell also drove in two runs each.
Purvis and Blackstock each had three hits for BA with Purvis adding three RBIs.
Perry Kate Kraft, Leta Greco and McCain were also strong at the plate.
The two teams met again on Tuesday at Benton, which will be included in the next edition of The Herald.
