PARAGOULD --- One of the Marion Patriot softball team's goals this spring has been to win a conference title. The Pats will get their chance next Tuesday following a doubleheader split on Thursday night at Paragould. Marion (17-8 overall, 9-3 5A East) muscled up in a series-opening 7-6 win against a scrappy Paragould (10-9, 7-5) club. A three-run home run from junior Kelsey Baker and a two-run shot from sophomore Kelsey Eppes accounted for Marion's scoring in a five-run fourth inning, and the Pats stranded the potential game-tying run at third base to clinch victory. Paragould paid back Marion in the nightcap, striking for 15 runs on 14 hits to earn a 15-5 victory and a series split for the second straight season. Intrigue abounds ahead of Marion's conference-closing doubleheader on Tuesday, May 3 at Greene County Tech. The Pats can earn a share of the 5A East title and the No. 1 playoff seed should they sweep the league-leading Eagles (20-4-1, 11-1). Marion is currently two games ahead of Paragould and Searcy (12-10, 7-5) in the league race, and the Pats split with each club. MHS has clinched a state tournament berth in Hot Springs. The Pats darted out of the gates in the opener behind the bat of senior Emerson Miller (3-3 in the first game with two walks, an RBI, and a run scored), who singled in the first inning ahead of a knock from centerfielder McKenzie Shinabery. Eppes delivered both to the plate with a single and Marion led 2-0 into the bottom of the first. Paragould scratched out single runs in the bottom of the first and second before striking for a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to claim a 4-2 lead into the fourth inning. That's when the Pats' rally began as catcher Jacey Holder led off with a double into the left-field corner before first baseman Claire Hall (2-3 with a walk and a run scored) singled to set up Baker's (1-3 with three RBI, two walks, and a run scored) big fly with two strikes. When the second baseman's round-tripper landed, Marion led 5-4 and Paragould had yet to record an out. Shinabery reached on a fielder's choice, and Paragould seemed to have a good opportunity to escape the jam when the Rams got ahead of Eppes (2-3 with two runs scored and two RBI) 0-2. Instead, the left fielder turned on a pitch and belted it over the fence for a two-run shot that gave the Pats a 7-4 lead into the bottom of the fourth. Eppes also came through in the field, making a pair of running catches to steal hits from Paragould. Armed with a three-run lead, Marion sophomore pitcher Anna Hitchman buckled down in the middle innings, barring Paragould from the scoreboard in the fourth and sixth innings. Hitchman pitched a complete game in the opener at Paragould, scattering 10 hits and allowing six runs, only four of which were earned. Paragould got one back in the fifth when catcher Kayleene Roe hit a solo home run, but Marion entered the bottom of the seventh ahead 7-5. Lauren Stanley led off with a single, but Hitchman got the next two batters in order and fired a pair of strikes at Molly McPherson, who responded by lining a double into the gap to plate Stanley. Things got dicier when Kahlyn Massey singled to push Paragould's tying run to third, with Massey representing the winning run at first. Hitchman got Kiley Williams to hit the ball back to the circle, and though Hitchman struggled to get the ball out of her glove, her throw finally beat Williams to first to notch the final out to clinch a crucial Marion victory. Paragould tallied three runs in the top of the first in the second game, but Miller (1-2 in the second contest with two walks and two runs scored) helped Marion get one back when she walked and scored on Shinabery's (3-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and a run scored) double. With Paragould leading 10-1 in the third, Marion's more prosperous rally of the nightcap started when Baker (2-4 with two doubles and a run scored) struck a two-bagger and Miller walked. Shinabery brought Baker to the plate with a single before Eppes plated Miller with a fielder's choice. Shortstop Brianna Morquecho struck a double to score Hitchman and Marion was within 10-5. Marion concludes its regular-season conference schedule on Tuesday afternoon at Greene County Tech, with the first pitch scheduled for 4:30. That league doubleheader will be streamed live on MarionPatriots.com and on the Marion Patriots Activities Network mobile app.