Hackleburg escapes Belgreen with close win

J.R. Tidwell/FCT Belgreen’s Laken Bragwell (24) takes a swing at a pitch against Hackleburg Monday afternoon at Belgreen.

BELGREEN — The Belgreen Lady Bulldogs hosted the Hackleburg Lady Panthers in a big area matchup Monday afternoon. The Lady Panthers, after on big inning, managed to leave the park with a close 5-4 win.

“[That big inning] killed us,” Belgreen head coach Richie Hester said. “Our girls kept coming back, but we just couldn’t get the big hit today.”

Hackleburg put their only points of the game on the board in the top of the second inning with five runs. The Lady Panthers would not score again, but they would hold onto that lead until the end.

Lauren Oliver started Belgreen off on the right foot with an RBI single in the top of the first that scored Erica Smith.

Oliver put another point on the scoreboard when she stole home plate on a wild pitch in the bottom of the third.

Smith touched home plate again for the Lady Bulldogs in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly ball to right field by Laken Bragwell.

Smith scored Belgreen’s final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI double that brought in Allyson Bragwell.

The Lady Bulldogs were unable to complete the rally, and Hackleburg picked up the area win.

“The girls did a lot of things right today, and I’m proud of them,” Hester said.