The Pike Lady Patriots softball team split their pair of games on day one of the Jonah McWaters Tournament on Friday.

Sam Yarbrough’s two homeruns were not enough in the Lady Patriots 6-4 loss at the hands of Lakeside in game one.

The Patriots were able to jump out to a 4-0 lead over Lakeside, thanks to Yarbrough’s two homeruns. Lakeside was able to even the score in the top of the fifth inning to force an international tiebreaker as the 75 minute limit was exceeded.

With a runner allowed to begin the inning at second base, Lakeside wasted no time getting her and a second runner to cross home plate to win the game.

Patriots starting pitcher, Bailey Rushing got through the first inning unscathed. The Patriots were able to break through first in the opening inning. With two outs in the inning, starting shortstop Sam Yarbrough stepped to the plate and hammered the pitch over the centerfield wall for a homerun to give the Patriots the early 1-0 lead after one inning.

Yarbrough’s power punch didn’t end in the first. The powerful shortstop smacked another homerun in her very next time up to the plate. After Finlayson reached on an error and Kayla Dendy reached on a fielder’s choice, Yarbrough took the second pitch of the at bat over the left field wall to give the Patriots a 4-0 lead heading into the fourth inning.

Lakeside mounted a comeback in the top of the fourth inning when they sent eight batters to the plate and had three runners come across to score.

Rushing was able to bear down and get a big strikeout to end the inning stranding two runners in scoring position.

Lakeside was able to even up the score in the fifth when they sent six batters to the plate and tied the score on a single, scoring the run from second base.

Pike had a chance to end the game in the bottom of the fifth inning until they stranded the winning run on third base. Katelyn Dendy got the inning started with a single and following a groundout by Finlayson; Lakeside walked both Kayla Dendy and Yarbrough to load the bases for Rushing. The pitcher hit a smash liner to the second baseman who was able to snag the ball for the second out of the inning. Danielle Brown came up and took a called third strike for the final out to leave the bases loaded.

Yarbrough led the Patriots in hitting by going 2-2 with two homeruns and a walk. She also drove in all four of the Patriots runs.

The Patriots battled back in game two and picked up an 11-4 win over Crenshaw to put them 1-1 heading into day two of the tournament on Saturday.

Yarbrough finished the game 1-2 for the Patriots, while Rushing when 2-3. Brown finished the game 1-2 with a tripple.

The Patriots will continue the Jonah McWaters Tournament on Saturday when they take on Hooper at 10:30 a.m. and Abbeville at 3:00 p.m.