Vina's varsity softball team split a pair of games at the Eagle Classic on Saturday, beating Hackleburg 6-3 and falling to tournament host Covenant Christian 8-4.
In the bottom of the first against Hackleburg, Vina senior Brooke Brown was hit by a pitch and stole second before scoring on a single by Kaitlyn King. King then stole second and scored on a base hit by Baylee Hutcheson to make it 2-0.
Hackleburg cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the second, but the Lady Red Devils scored twice in the bottom of the third. King singled, stole two bases and came home on a sac bunt by Hutcheson. Sarah Johnson walked, stole second and scored on a throwing error to make it 4-1.
Vina extended the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Senior Abby Hester singled and stole second and third. After Brown walked and stole second, King came through with a two-run single to make it 6-1.
Hackleburg scored twice in the top of the fifth, but Vina was able to hold on. King earned the win in the circle, striking out five.
In a semifinal game later on Saturday, Vina fell behind Covenant 1-0 in the first before rallying with four runs in the third inning. Sophomore Kayla Thompson singled, and Hailey Cantrell drew a walk. Hester tied the game with an RBI single, and then Cantrell scored on a sacrifice by Brown to make it 2-1. Hester stole a base and scored on an RBI single by King, who later came home on a base hit by sophomore Greta Raper to make it 4-1.
Disaster struck for the Lady Red Devils in the bottom of the inning. Covenant had five hits and took advantage of three Vina errors to score seven runs and take an 8-4 lead. The Lady Eagles held on and advanced to the championship game.
Vina is scheduled to visit Tharptown on Tuesday for an area game.
