EVANS – Facing elimination, the eighth-ranked Evans Lady Eagles answered the bell.

The Lady Eagles scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth and held off a comeback attempt by the No. 9 Hicks Lady Pirates, coming away with a 5-4 victory Tuesday in the regional round of the Class C playoffs.

With the win, Evans advanced to the quarterfinals for a matchup at top-ranked Calvin at 4 p.m. Thursday. Results should be available in Sunday's edition of the paper.

Evans jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, the first run coming courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Sadie Jeane, scoring Kaitlyn Jeane.

The Lady Eagles added a run in the second to build a 3-0 advantage before Hicks broke through in the top of the third with a run.

It remained that way until the fifth inning, when Hicks came to life.

Maliah Gordy doubled for the second time of the game for Hicks, but she would score this time thanks to an RBI-triple from Jozlyn Westfall. Westfall scored on a single from Jayde Wilbanks to tie the game.

Wilbanks later scored to give Hicks its first lead of the contest at 4-3.

But in the bottom.of the sixth, Evans managed to retake the lead. Kaitlyn Jeane and Sadie Jeane each reached on infield dribblers and Kaitlyn Jeane would later score to tie it up.

An error by Hicks on a liner from Madi Gollihugh allowed the Lady Eagles to score the go-ahead run to reclaim the advantage.

Hicks managed to get a runner to third in the top of the seventh, but Evans was able to record the final out to pick up the win.

Sadie Jeane not only had two hits and two RBIs, but she also picked up the win pitching, giving up four runs on 11 hits with seven strikeouts.

Kaitlyn Jeane had a hit and scored two runs, while Gollihugh and Libby Craft each had a pair of hits.

Kassidy Busby suffered the loss, giving up five runs on nine hits. She struck out one batter.

Destiny Hickman had three hits and an RBI, while Westfall also had three hits and an RBI. Each of them collected a triple.

Gordy added two doubles and a run scored, while Wilbanks had two hits, including a double, scored twice and had one RBI. 

This article originally appeared on Leesville Daily Leader: Lady Eagles rally past Hicks, 5-4