Ben’s Ford Christian School hung in early against Prentiss Christian School, but a seven-run fifth inning by Prentiss, late struggles at the plate in the clutch and errors proved costly for the Lady Eagles in a 13-9 loss Monday.

“We made a few mental errors,” Mark McGehee said. “The girls played good, kept their head up, we gave up a few runs in the fifth inning on some errors and it got us behind.”

But despite committing at least one error in every inning except for the seventh, Ben’s Ford (1-1 at press time), which committed nine errors overall, hung tough.

The Lady Eagles trailed 13-8 as the teams prepared to play the bottom of the seventh and Ben’s Ford wasn’t going to lose without a battle.

Madison Crawford and Hannah Bullock were hit to begin the frame and then Kassie Lumpkin drew a base on balls to load the bases with nobody out.

The next two hitters struck out before Chloe Barber was hit to drive in Crawford to make it 13-9, which brought the potential tying run to the plate, but a groundout to second ended the game.

“The girls are not going to give up,” McGehee said. “They’re going to work hard. It’s in them to work hard and I’m mighty proud of them.”

The game began with a high-scoring first inning, which saw the teams combine for six runs on just one hit, while taking advantage of six errors.

Prentiss tallied the contest’s first two runs. Aspyn Rousse led off by reaching on an error and swiping second. A pair of groundouts to second baseman Anna Bella Seal, who threw both players out to first baseman Alexis Temples, allowed Rousse to score with Anna Kate Turnage recording the RBI groundout. Turnage finished with four RBIs.

Bayleigh Foster then reached on an error and the courtesy runner scored on a miscue to make it 2-0.

Ben’s Ford responded with four runs in the bottom of the first and also took advantage of three errors.

Celeste Crowe opened the inning by striking out, but reached first after the ball hit the dirt and the throw to first was low and past the first baseman.

Crowe moved to second on a wild pitch. After a strikeout, Callie Sprehe reached on an error, moving Crowe to third.

Savannah Smith collected an RBI with Crowe scoring after hitting a ball to the pitcher. The throw went to second, but was low and into centerfield. After a strikeout, Crawford singled to left field, plating courtesy runner Katelyn McCain, but an error sent Smith home with the go-ahead run and it was 3-2. Bullock grounded to third. The throw went home, but Crawford beat the play and the Lady Eagles were up 4-2 after one.

It remained that way until the fourth when Prentiss struck for three with a two-out rally. Rousse and Chyann Powell both walked before Turnage’s RBI single trimmed it to 4-3.

Foster knotted the contest with a grounder to third, but the throw to first was dropped, allowing another run to cross and Prentiss was back in front 5-4.

Ben’s Ford continued to fight back.

The Lady Eagles put up a run in their half. Lumpkin walked and after a strikeout, Crowe was hit.

Both moved up on a wild pitch and Lumpkin retied the match up 5-5 on Barber’s RBI groundout to second.

Prentiss pretty much took control of the game in the fifth. With one out, Mayci McCloud, Anna Williams Cochran and Aveen Lee all singled. Rousse gave Prentiss the lead for good with a grounder to shortstop, but an error allowed her to reach.

Powell and Turnage came up with back-to-back two-run singles and it was a 10-5 advantage.

Foster was next and she delivered an RBI single to left and then Janie Parish picked up a run batted in and reached on a miscue. It was 12-5 after five innings.

Ben’s Ford cut into the lead with three runs in the sixth. Lumpkin walked to begin. After a strikeout, Crowe reached on an error. Following the second out, Barber reached on a fielder’s choice after the runner was thrown out at home, but Crowe alertly scored on the throw back to the pitcher to make it 12-6.

Sprehe posted an RBI single to right, sending Barber home and Smith’s run-scoring double, which plated pinch runner McCain brought it to 12-8 after six.

Prentiss added a run in the seventh for the 13-8 lead and Ben’s Ford put up the final tally in the seventh, but could not complete the comeback in the 13-9 loss to put the Lady Eagles at 1-1.

Ben’s Ford was back on the field after yesterday’s press time for another home game, this time against Wilkinson County.

The Lady Eagles return to action Aug. 4 on the road against Amite School Center for the first of three consecutive road games. The other two are against Bowling Green Aug. 5 and Centeeville Aug. 11.

In Friday’s action, Ben’s Ford opened the season by downing Wilkinson County Christian Academy 13-2 in five innings in a road game highlighted by a seven-run second inning for the Lady Eagles.

Barber finished with three hits, including a double and four run scored. Crowe singled and scored twice, while Sprehe singled, walked, got hit and tallied two runs. Temples singled and scored a pair of runs. Crawford singled, walked and scored.Emily Crawford singled. Lumpkin walked and scored in the victory to begin the season.