The Marion softball team started its spring break with a pair of dramatic conference victories before heading south for a run at a competitive regional tournament in Alabama. Marion came from behind twice last week for a pair of crucial 5A East victories over Searcy, topping the Lions 11-8 and 9-4 in nine innings. The Patriots allowed leads to escape in Alabama, dropping one-run decisions to Carlisle (7-6), Pelham (2-1), and falling to John Carroll Catholic 9-5 and to Russellville, Alabama (14-8). Marion is now 8-6 overall in 2025, but most importantly 2-0 in the 5A East ahead of a massive league doubleheader on Tuesday night at Valley View, which is also 2-0 in league play. The Patriots stopped Searcy in the first game of the league-opening doubleheader by scoring three times in the first inning, six times in the fourth, and two more times in the fifth. Marion muscled out nine hits in the first contest against Searcy, led by sophomore Kayson “Kbelle” McClain's 3-4 day at the plate, including four RBI, two runs, and a home run. Freshman Madeyln Hamrick started at third base and finished 2-3 at the dish, driving in five runs and scoring once. Kolbie Triplett (1-4 with an RBI and a run), Jordyn Stinson (1-4 with an RBI), Kynlee Shaull (1-3), and Presley Kuhn (1-2 with two runs and a walk) powered the Marion attack. Senior Maddie Cupples started and earned the inside the circle for Marion and worked 4.1 effective innings before handing off to McClain for the final 2.2 frames, who allowed just one baserunner and struck out four batters to nail down the save. Searcy struck first in the nightcap, taking a 2-0 lead into the third, when Marion scored its first two runs. The Patriots scored two more times in the sixth before Searcy tied the game at 4 in the bottom of the seventh. Following a pair of scoreless innings, Marion exploded for five runs in the top of the ninth, the most dramatic a grand slam from McClain that capped the scoring. It was McClain's second home run of the second game, and third of the doubleheader, after she hit a two-run round-tripper in the sixth to give Marion a 4-3 lead. Triplett was 2-3 with three runs scored, three walks, and an RBI in the nightcap, driving in her run with a bases-loaded walk in the top of the ninth that doubled as the winning run. McClain finished 2-3 in the second game with six RBI, three runs, and four walks. Shaull was 1-5 and Sophie Moore finished 1-3 with two walks, an RBI, and a run scored, as well as two tremendous catches in right field to save extra bases. McClain worked all nine innings in the nightcap, surrendering only two earned runs to earn the victory. Marion opened its run in Alabama against an Arkansas opponent, Class 2A power Carlisle, and the Patriots led 4-1 and 6-2 before the Bison rallied for a 7-6 victory. Moore finished with two hits and a run against Carlisle, while Triplett (1-2 with two runs and a walk), Stinson (1-3), Shaull (1-3 with an RBI), and Hamrick (1-2 with a run and an RBI) also produced offensively. Cupples struck out three batters in three innings, while McClain punched out three hitters in 1.2 frames. Marion carried a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning in the second contest against Pelham before allowing single runs in the fifth and sixth frames. Triplett (2-3), Chloe Miller (1-2 with a run), and McClain (1-3 with an RBI) powered the Patriot offense against Pelham. John Carroll Catholic scored the first five runs of the game before Marion came back with a five-spot in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 5 after a pair of innings. But John Carroll won the game by coming up with two runs apiece in the top of the third and top of the fifth. McClain (1-3 with two RBI), Hamrick (1-3 with a run), Maggie Miller (1-2 with a run and a walk), and Cupples (1-1 with a run and a walk) and Chloe Miller (a walk and an RBI) came up with the offense for Marion. Marion scored in three of four innings against Russellville (Al.), but RHS scored multiple runs in every frame for the 14-8 win. Chloe Miller (2-2 with a run), Triplett (2-3 with a run and an RBI), McClain (1-3 with two RBI and a run), Maggie Miller (1-2 with a run and an RBI), Cupples (2-1 with a run and an RBI), Kuhn (1-1 with a walk, run, and RBI), and Shaull (1-2 with two RBI) each contributed at the plate for the Pats. Chloe Miller roped a double, while Triplett struck a triple against Russellville. WHAT'S NEXT? Marion travels to Valley View on Tuesday, April 1, for a crucial 5A East doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., and you can watch both Valley View softball games for free on the MPAN YouTube channel, at MarionPatriots.com, or on the MPAN mobile app. 5A EAST STANDINGS ON 3/31 SCHOOL CONF. RECORD Marion 2-0 Greene Co. Tech 2-0 Paragould 2-0 Valley View 2-0 Searcy 0-2 Batesville 0-2 Nettleton 0-2 W. Memphis 0-2 The top four teams make the state tournament at Benton. 5A EAST DOUBLEHEADERS ON 4/1 Marion at Valley View Greene Co. Tech at Paragould Nettleton at Searcy Batesville at W. Memphis