Lady Redskins stunned after giving up five runs in seventh in 8-7 loss to Great Bend

Lizzie Mannel (3) makes her way home after hitting a home run against Great Bend Monday. The Lady Redskins had a 6-3 lead heading in to the seventh inning but gave up five runs and lost 8-7. L&T photo/Earl WattEARL WATT • Leader & Times

After dominating the middle innings against Great Bend and taking a 6-2 lead in the final two innings, the Lady Redskins faltered in the seventh inning, allowing five runs and eventually losing to the Lady Panthers 8-7.

The Lady Redskins and Lady Panthers battled back and forth early, with the Lady Panthers pushing a run across the plate in the first and second innings and the Lady Redskins getting a run in the second.

But Jenna Ormiston and the Lady Redskin defense clamped down for the next three innings and did not allow a run.

The Lady Redskins broke through in the fourth inning including a home run from Lizzie Mannel that gave Liberal a 4-2 lead.

The Lady Redskins pushed two more runs across the plate in the fifth, and Liberal had a 6-2 lead.

The Lady Panthers cut the lead to 6-3 in the top of the sixth, and the Lady Redskins entered the final inning needing three outs to secure the win.

But the Lady Panthers were able to get a pair of runners on base with one out. The Lady Redskin defense started to falter, and Ormiston could not get the outs at the plate, allowing the Lady Panthers to put the ball in play.

Still, the Lady Redskins had a 6-4 lead with the bases loaded with two outs, and Ormiston only needed one strike to get the win.

Instead, Great Bend’s batter ripped a shot to center field, and the Liberal outfield misplayed the ball. By the time they were able to get the ball back to the infield, the Lady Panthers cleared the bases and the batter scored as well to give the Lady Panthers an 8-6 lead.

Liberal pushed a run across the plate in the bottom of the seventh and had runners on second and third, but the final Liberal batter watched strike three, and Liberal fell 8-7.