Things fell apart in the later innings for the Pike Liberal Arts softball team Monday, as the Patriots fell to Lee-Scott Academy 4-2.

The Patriots led 2-1 in the top of the sixth before Lee-Scott struck for two runs to take a 3-2 lead that it would not relinquish.

“They just came up to the plate and got a couple of hits,” said PLAS assistant coach Tim Davenport. “Then, they were smart and they played small ball by bunting some people over and getting themselves in good position.”

The inning began with Lee-Scott loading the bases, but the Patriots eventually got out of the inning with just the two runs allowed.

“That inning could have been a lot worse,” Davenport said. “They really did a good job to get out of it the way they did. We can’t be down on ourselves at all.”

PLAS took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth when J.J. Jones scored on an error, and Kailee Taylor drove in Josie Griffin.

The Patriots had trailed 1-0 after the top of the fourth, when LSA pushed across a run to open the game’s scoring.

Lee-Scott added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on an RBI groundout before giving way to the Patriots for one final at-bat.

PLAS got its leadoff hitter on board, but the next three batters were retired to end the game.

After the game, Davenport said the contest could have gone either way.

“They played hard,” Davenport said. “There just weren’t any breaks that went our way. It’s a heartbreaker, but it’s one of those games either team could have won.”

Jones led PLAS with two hits in three at-bats.

With the loss now behind them, the Patriots must now focus on doing what it takes to make the AISA playoffs.

“We’ve got another one Thursday, and we’ve just got to continue to hit and work on our defense because we’ve still got a shot,” Davenport said.

PLAS returns to action Thursday at home against Abbeville Christian at 3:30 p.m.