Prep Softball: 'Dogs fall late at Benton

Benton's Katie Sandusky drove in the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth Tuesday, leading the Rangers to a 3-2 win over Harrisburg in prep softball action.

Harrisburg (8-12 overall, 0-6 SIRR Ohio) left 12 runners on base in the loss, as Benton rallied from a 2-0 deficit.

Harrisburg took a 2-0 lead on a pair of RBI's by Mckenzie Sullivan and Matty Hawkins as Sullivan finished 3-for-4 on the day.

Jessie Bramlet was 2-for-3 for the Bulldogs, while Gillian Jones, Abby Dalton and Hawkins all had a hit.

Hawkins took the loss in the circle as the freshman right hander dropped to 5-10 on the year. She went 8 2/3, allowing three earned runs on eight hits, while striking out five and walking two.

"Leaving runners on base seems to be our achilles heel right now," Harrisburg head coach Red Stafford said. Stafford was ejected from Tuesday's conference tilt after arguing a call that later allowed Benton to put up one run against the Bulldogs.

"Someone has got to step up and starting coming through at the plate for us. That being said, I can't say enough about Matty, her pitching has been really good as of late, we just haven't been helping her out on offense."

Harrisburg returns to action Thursday at Massac County and will play host to Murphysboro on Friday, both starting at 4:30 p.m.

On Saturday, the Bulldogs will host the Harrisburg Invitational, welcoming in Hardin County and Carmi-White County.

Harrisburg will play Carmi-White County at 11 a.m., followed by CWC and Hardin County. The Bulldogs and Hardin County will follow.