photo by: Jeff Campbell

Shadyside's Cam Kolvek connects with a pitch Tuesday during the Tigers' home game against Bellaire.

SHADYSIDE – Neighboring rivals Bellaire and Shadyside were both looking to return to winning ways Tuesday afternoon in Tiger Town.

As fate would have it, the Lady Reds took advantage of 12 unearned runs en route to a wild 16-14 marathon win. The Lady Tigers were guilty of nine errors.

The win enabled Bellaire to snap a three game-losing streak while evening its record at 3-3 on the young campaign. The Lady Reds pay a visit to the Purple City today to take on unbeaten Martins Ferry.

Shadyside, meanwhile, dropped its second straight and is now 3-2 on the season. The Lady Tigers visit Caldwell this afternoon.

Emilee Menendez went the route in the circle for Bellaire. The junior right-hander tossed 129 pitches, 90 of which were strikes. She yielded just six earned runs while striking out two and walking a like amount.

Bellaire parlayed Shadyside’s fielding issues with 11 hits. The winners stranded 15 runners.

“It was ugly but a win is a win,” Bellaire head coach Dave Menendez said. “We needed this win. Otherwise, it might have been a long week.

“Anytime you score 16 runs it is a good day at the plate. We had some big innings but give Shadyside credit. They never quit,” he added. “Emilee did yeoman’s work in the circle. It was a nice and much-needed win.”

Leading 4-1 after three innings, Bellaire added four more tallies in the fourth on just two hits. Marissa Pacifico delivered a two-run double in the frame.

Shadyside responded in the most of impressive fashions in the home-half of the fourth, exploding for seven runs on just one hit to knot matters at 8-8. The one hit was a big one – a grad slam by Kaylie Warnock.

Bellaire regained control with a six-spot in the fifth inning to build a 14-8 advantage. The Lady Tigers committed three errors in the frame while Lexi Fry delivered an RBI single.

Shadyside refused to go quietly, scoring one run in the fifth and two in the sixth. Kamryn Parker delivered an RBI triple for the hosts in the sixth.

Bellaire added an insurance run in the top of the seventh to make it a 16-11 lighting. Freshman Jaela Phillips walked and came home on the final Shadyside miscue of the night.

The Lady Tigers, however, made things very interesting in their final at-bat.

With one out, Layla Samsa singled. Freshman Cam Kolvek and Parker singled successively to make it 16-12. Warnock belted a two-run single, drawing the Lady Tigers to within two. The hosts would get no closer, however, as Menendez retired the next two batters on groundouts – one to first base and the other back to the pitcher, respectively.

“It was a heck-of-a-game,” Shadyside coach Bob Gorrell said. “We made great comeback to tie the game. Then it just got away from us.

“Our defense really did let us down. We gave them way too many runs,” he continued. “But our girls showed a lot of heart. I was proud of how we didn’t give up and had a chance to win.”

Ali Weatherson started in the circle for Shadyside, She gave way to Kolvek in the second while Parker came on in the sixth. They combined for five strikeouts and nine walks.

Lily Zeller, Phillips, Calleigh Holt and Fry led the Bellaire attack with two hits each.

Shadyside also had 11 hits on the day. Parker, Kolvek, Warnock and Samsa each had two hits for the Lady Tigers. Warnock had seven RBI.