J.R. Tidwell/FCT Autumn Thomas (22) of Phil Campbell beats out a throw to Tharptown’s Brae Sellers (21) at second base.

PHIL CAMPBELL —  The Tharptown Lady Wildcats defeated the Phil Campbell Lady Bobcats 4-3 in a close game in Phil Campbell last Tuesday.

“I thought this was the first time all season that the girls played with passion, like they wanted to win,” Tharptown head coach Susie Sellers said. “We needed that win.”

Tharptown started off hot with a three-run first inning.

Kaitlyn Vandiver brought in two runs and Brae Sellers brought in one in the top of the first for the Lady Wildcats.

Tharptown seemed poised to add more insurance runs to its lead, but Lindsey Jackson of Phil Campbell was brought in to pitch.

She recorded three-straight outs with the bases loaded to end the scoring threat.

The Lady Bobcats struck back in the top of the third. Autumn Thomas reached base on a walk, Korina Jimenez reached base on a mishandled fielder’s choice and Madison Hardy loaded the bases with a walk.

Jackson put Phil Campbell on the board with a two-RBI single to right field.

Whitley Yocom then tied the game at 3-3 when she scored a run on a mishandled groundball.

Neither team could end the stalemate for the next three innings, but Tharptown would end the deadlock in the top of the seventh.

Vandiver came up to bat with one runner on. She swung at a pitch, but unfortunately her thumb was between the ball and bat.

She had to come off the field to get the digit bandaged because it had been split open.

She then picked up the bat again and hit an RBI single to shallow center field.

This proved to be the winning run for the Lady Wildcats.

“We let them slip by,” Phil Campbell head coach Darit Riddle said. “They came wanting to win and we didn’t. We thought we could come in and lay down and win. There’s nothing like a good reality check.”

Phil Campbell got some offense going in the bottom of the seventh to attempt a last-inning comeback.

Jackson walked followed by a double to right center by Yocom. Vicky McAllister drew a walk to load the bases. Sarah Hester hit a fielder’s choice, but the runner was thrown out at home.

Tharptown then ended the scoring threat and the game on a 1-2-3 double play.

Shelby Palmer was the winning pitcher for Tharptown. She threw for all seven innings, giving up three runs with three strikeouts and five walks.