Fountain Central took a big early lead on Friday, lost it and then came back for a walk-off win as they defeated the visiting Faith Christian Eagles softball team by a 9-8 score.
Sophomore pitcher Patience Bixler set the visitors down in order in the first and then she and her teammates pushed two run across in the bottom half of the inning.
Jackie Weber led off with a single, Oliviah Jones reached on an error and Keylee Stonebraker filled the bases with a walk before, two outs later, Kynleigh Elkins single home Weber and Jones.
Faith Christian got runners to second and third on a single, a walk and two stolen bases, but the next batter hit a fly ball to Elkins in right field to retire the side.
The Mustangs used singles by Kyra Kiger, Kailey Daugherty on a bunt, Jones and Stonebraker to add three more runs to lead 5-0 going into the third inning.
Faith Christian picked up two runs that frame on three singles and a Mustang error to trail 5-2.
The tally stayed that way until the bottom of the fourth when Fountain Central matched those two scores to regain their five-run lead as Weber and Stonebraker doubled and Bixler singled to make it 7-2.
Once again, no one scored in the next inning, but in the top of the sixth, the Eagles exploded for six runs.
A single, two doubles and a walk led to a 7-5 score and Mustang coach Kevin Merryman changing pitchers, putting Brailyn Kiger into the circle.
The freshman hurler gave up two more singles and a double against a strikeout and a caught stealing with the Eagles scoring three more runs to lead 8-7.
In the bottom of the sixth, Fountain Central tried to reply, but despite another Weber single, the hosts failed to score.
Faith Christian could not add to their lead in the top of the seventh as they got a two-out double but the following batter grounded out.
That brought the Mustangs to the plate just three outs away from a loss, but the team responded.
After an initial ground out, Elkins got on base thanks to a throw that went into the visitors’ dugout that allowed her to reach second.
Lillian Bennett reached on an infield single and saw courtesy runner Sophia Bennett take her place on first and then steal second.
That brought up Kyra Kiger who lashed a ball into centerfield for a walk-off double that drove in Elkins and Bennett for the 9-8 win.
Merryman said he liked how his team fought back after having a rough inning that saw them lose the lead.
“We’ve got depth this year – almost everybody returned – and we don’t have any real weak spots,” he explained, then adding, “So we just kept working and got the win.”
The victory made the Mustangs 5-3 on the season with what was supposed to be a doubleheader with North Vermillion on Saturday upcoming, but those games were postponed due to heavy rains overnight.