A late collapse cost the Goshen Eagles Thursday, as GHS fell at home to Zion Chapel 12-3.

Goshen led 3-2 heading into the fifth inning before the Rebels exploded for five runs in the fifth, three runs in the sixth and two runs in the seventh to take the game.

“This was very disappointing,” said Goshen head coach Dee Hughes. “Our pitchers had an off day, and we had a few bad breaks. There were also some bad calls by the umpires that really put them in some good situations.”

Zion Chapel’s huge fifth inning started with a leadoff double from Jessie Brunson. After a groundout and two walks by Goshen pitcher Alli Warrick, the bases were loaded for the Rebels’ Lexie Piggott.

Piggott singled to left field, driving in two and giving ZCHS the lead for good.

The Rebels went on to score two more runs on Eagle errors, as well as another run on an RBI single before the inning was over.

Lauren Knighton then added an RBI single in the sixth for Zion Chapel, followed by an RBI sacrifice fly from Piggott, as well as another run scored on an error.

In the seventh, two more Rebel runs scored on two Goshen errors to give ZCHS the 12-3 lead.

The game was not all Zion Chapel, however, as Goshen led 3-2 after two innings, and remained on top until the fifth.

Goshen scored in the bottom of the first, manufacturing a run despite not getting a hit. Niyoka Slater led off the inning by reaching base on an error, and then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball before being driven in on a sacrifice fly by Rachel Senn.

The Eagles then went on top in the bottom of the second when Haley Hughes came up with an RBI infield single with the bases loaded, and Slater walked to drive in Goshen’s third run of the game.

After Slater’s walk, the Rebels replaced starting pitcher Brunson with eighth grader Shelby Sorrells.

Sorrells pitched the rest of the game, and did not allow a hit.

Meanwhile, Goshen’s pitchers struggled with control. Three Eagle pitchers combined to walk eight Rebel batters.

“This was especially disappointing because our pitchers have not struggled with control all year, so it was hard to swallow that,” Hughes said.

Warrick and Hughes, who both went 1-3, led Goshen offensively. Hughes had one of Goshen’s three RBIs. Slater and Senn had the other two.

With the win, Zion Chapel has clinched the regular season area title, as well as the right to play host to the area tournament.

“The thing is, there’s no pressure now,” Hughes said. “We just have to go out there and play ball. We still have a chance to take this area in the area tournament. They’re a good team, but we just didn’t hit today and we didn’t get the breaks we needed to today.”