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Bulldogs battle back to beat Benton

Harrisburg rallied with five runs in the sixth inning to come from behind to beat Benton 7-6 in Southern Illinois River-To-River Ohio action Thursday.

With Harrisburg (14-1, 2-1) trailing 4-2 in the sixth inning, Mackenzie Marshall led the inning off with a base hit, which followed a base hit by Madeline Rider. Haley Sullivan's single then scored Marshall and after an Essence Sanders flyout, Karsyn Davis was intentionally walked to load the bases when Kerrigan Payne came through with a big double to drive in two runs. A couple of errors later, Ashlyn Hammond, who was pinch running for Payne, scored.

Harrisburg had to hold off a rally by Benton, who scored two runs in the top of the seventh.

Addisyn Miller led off with a base hit and with one out, Lacey Jerkins hit a double to score Miller. Jerkins later scored on an error.

The Rangerettes exploded for four runs in the first inning when Miller led off and was safe on an error and was bunted to second by Cailyn Fowlkes. Miller later scored on a base hit by Jerkins and that followed a Zoe Carlton base hit and an errors in center field that led to another run. Kiley Carter's single scored Jerkins and Carlton and Carter then scored on a base hit by Addy Morgan.

The Bulldogs cut the deficit in half with a pair of runs in the fifth inning when Sanders led the inning off with a solo home run to straight center. Davis then doubled and was replaced at second by pinch runner Riley Harrison, who scored on a double by Lexie Williams.

Payne picked up the win in the circle, improving to 11-1 on the season. The freshman left hander went six innings, giving up six runs (two earned) on 10 hits and struck out seven.

Carter took the loss for Benton, allowing seven runs on 10 hits, while striking out six and walking five.

At the plate, Rider, Sanders and Williams led Harrisburg going 2-for-4, while Marshall, Sullivan, Payne and Davis all had one hit.

Benton got a 2-for-4 performance from both Miller, Carter and Jerkins, while Jerkins and Carter finished with at least one RBI. Abby Morgan, Kortney Wilcox, Fowlkes, Cartlon and Morgan all had one hit.

<b>Carmi-White County 17, Eldorado 7</b>

Eldorado and Carmi-White County combined for 26 hits, but the Bulldogs got the better of Eldorado in a 17-7 Black Diamond Conference win Thursday afternoon.

The Eagles had 11 hits on the day as Paige Munds went 3-for-4 with a run, while Lexie Mitchell was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Cathlene Green was 2-for-4 with four RBI and Emma Wargel was 2-for-4 with a home run. Ali Joyner was 1-for-4 with a run scored and Haley Easley drove in a run.

Wargel took the loss in the circle, giving up 15 hits and two walks.