Conway scored two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, and they needed both as they escaped with a 6-4 victory over Vilonia in the A Legion Diamond Classic in Conway on Thursday.
Leading 4-2 going into the home half of the sixth inning, Conway (8-5) looked to put the game away. Jeremy Atkins came up with a two-out triple to right-center that scored Landon McClain and Zack Cates. The four-run cushion looked big enough the way Conway's Jordan Leach was throwing the ball on the mound.
But after a leadoff walk, Vilonia's Caleb Loyd beat out an infield single to drive in Brad Brantley. Loyd would then score as Michael Henry grounded out to second to cut the deficit to 6-4. That is as close as Vilonia would get as Conway brought in Eric Engler to record the final out.
"We hung in there but we left a lot of guys on base," Conway coach Jacob Boucher said. "Jeremy Atkins came up with a big hit with runners on and that proved to be the difference.
"Jordan (Leach) pitched a great game but he got tired late because he threw a lot of pitches. Then Engler came in and we told him to throw nothing but fastballs, and that is what he did to get the job done."
Vilonia got on the scoreboard first as Bradley Thomas came up with a two-out single in the top of the first, scoring Loyd.
"We are proud of the way our kids played tonight," Vilonia coach Bruce Brantley said. "They got key hits with runners in scoring position and that proved to be the difference."
Conway quickly responded as Zack Wyatt drove in McClain with a single to center that tied the game. Engler then gave Conway the 2-1 advantage as he singled to right.
Vilonia then tied the game up in the top of the third as Justin Rotton started things off by getting hit by a pitch. Thomas then doubled to left-center to drive in Rotton to tie the score at 2-all.
Leach picked up the victory for Conway as he pitched 62Ú3 innings giving up four runs on five hits while striking out six and walking six. Vilonia's Thomas was handed the loss as he pitched six innings allowing six runs on six hits while striking out eight while walking four.
"Bradley pitched a heck of a game," Brantley said. "But he got a little tired and ran into some trouble late. Offensively we seemed to catch fire just a little too late."
Conway took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth as they picked up a pair of runs without recording a hit. Conway drew three walks including a bases loaded free pass by Zack Wyatt.
Vilonia will face North Little Rock on Saturday in the Diamond Classic while Conway will take on Greenbrier following the Vilonia contest.
"We have already played them twice this year," Boucher said of Greenbrier. "We can't go in expecting a win so hopefully we will be able to get on them early and put the pressure on them."
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