A seven inning thriller between two unbeaten teams came down to the wire as the Manti Templars topped the Carbon Lady Dinos 9-8 Wednesday afternoon in Manti.
The two teams entered the game with identical 5-0 records. Pegged as two 3A heavyweights, the back-and-forth non-region contest lived up to the billing as the lead switched hands multiple times.
Carbon took an early lead after scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Faced with an 0-2 count, with one out, Carbon senior Lyndsey Madrigal went yard for the fourth time this season as she sent a two-run shot over the right field wall.
Manti answered with one run in the bottom of the first and took the lead with a four run frame in the third. The Templars carried the three run lead into the seventh inning, where both teams came alive to deliver drama.
Trailing 5-2 entering the top of the seventh, the Lady Dinos continued to chip away. Gracie Hansen started the rally with a single to right field. Moments later Molly Horsley singled to left, leading to a Manti throwing error that brought Hansen in for a run.
The seventh inning rally continued as Gianna Bruno singled, putting runners at first and second. Madrigal then crushed a line drive to center field, scoring Horsley and advancing Bruno to third. A walk by Amya Prettyman loaded the bases with no outs and Carbon down by one.
Haven Byerly tied the contest with a single down the third base line, scoring Bruno. Carbon then broke the tie by adding two runs on a Brooke Moosman single and a Manti throwing error. Hansen returned to the plate and brought in one more run with a two-out RBI infield ground ball.
Up 8-5 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Dinos struggled to put the Templars away. A solo home run by senior Katie Larsen brought Manti within two. Ashley Rasmussen reached safely on a double and scored on the next at bat as Haylee Daniels singled to right field to cut Carbon’s lead to one run.
With the bases loaded and one out Manti’s Maquette Hansen sent a fly ball into center, scoring two runs to give Manti the win 9-8 win in thrilling fashion.
Despite the loss Carbon managed to out hit Manti 11-8. Madrigal, Moosman, Hansen and Tenley Madsen all recorded two hits. Madrigal also recorded a team best three RBIs.
Madsen, Byerly and Moosman all shared time on the mound. Madsen allowed four hits and four earned runs as she fanned five batters in three innings of work to start the game. Byerly allowed two earned runs on two hits in three frames.
Now 5-1 on the season, Carbon will look to get back on the winning track when they return to the field on Friday against the San Juan Broncos on the road in a Region 12 contest. The Lady Dinos are currently 1-0 in league play after blasting through South Sevier 24-0 earlier this week.