Ben Lomand Connect started the Thursday night game on fire but after two innings the fire was out and only smoke remained. Ben Lomand Connect jumped out to an early 10-6 lead after two innings. Holton Industries continued its march and it was more than Ben Lomand Connect could handle.
Holton Industries continued its march through the next four innings and added nine more runs to its total. Ben Lomand Connect burned up quick and went up in smoke. Holton Industries defeated Ben Lomand Connect, 15-12.
In the top of the first, Lily Smith and Isabella Pennington were the first pair to score for Holton Industries and the lead was 2-0. Two quick strikeouts and a ground ball for an out ended the inning early for Holton Industries.
Ben Lomand Connect, on the other hand, exploded in the first inning for five runs. Maddox Adams and Halle Lowe reached base just before the first two outs were made. It looked like a quick inning but Abigail Fann, Riley Stafford, and Aspen Adams reached base. All five girls to reach base scored, Briley Jones reached base but did not score and Ben Lomand Connect claimed the lead at 5-2.
Annabelle Reintz reached base for Holton Industries in the top of the second. Haley Smith followed with a base hit, Reintz was tagged out at third for the second out. Kaelyn Adams, Allie Melton, and Ellie Bain scored for Holton Industries. When the inning had ended Holton Industries reclaimed the lead, 6-5.
In the bottom of the second it was more of the same from Ben Lomand Connect. Adams and Kyren Damon scored and claimed the lead at 7-5 before they were hit with the first two outs. Fann, Stafford, and Adams all scurried around the bases in the pandemonium that followed the base hits and claimed the lead back yet again and Ben Lomand Connect led 10-6.
Holton Industries continued to pound out the hits. Hannah Parsley and Reintz were drove around the bases with more hits by Haley Smith and Adams. Holton cut into the lead and the score was 10-8.
After starting the game with a run-and-gun tempo, Ben Lomand Connect was out of gas by the bottom of the third. Damon and Lowe were the only two batters to reach base but they were left stranded after the third out ended the inning and held Ben Lomand Connect scoreless.
Holton Industries looked strong in the top of the fourth. Bain, Lilly Smith, Pennington, and Parsley all slugged their way on base. Haley Smith was able to knock in some runs with a base hit. At the end of three outs, Holton Industries jumped into the lead for the final time, 12-10.
Over the period of the next two innings Ben Lomand Connect had a single run in each of its two at-bats. The hitting that started the game off hot had dissipated and only smoky embers remained. Fann was the sole source of offense in the fourth and fifth innings.
On the other side of the field, Holton Industries added three more runs over the final two innings and the put out the fire started by Ben Lomand Connect and they went on to win 15-12.