HOT SPRINGS --- One could feel the momentum shifting to Marion during Friday's softball quarterfinal contest against Van Buren. The Patriots had just struck for three runs in the top of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead, to the enjoyment of the partisan Marion crowd assembled at Jackie Robinson Field at Majestic Park. Instead, the Pointers struck for eight unanswered runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to take down a 10-5 victory. Marion finishes its season 18-11 overall and 9-5 in the 5A East, highlighted by a second straight conference runner-up finish, and a second consecutive appearance in the quarterfinals. It was the final game for Marion senior softball seniors Emerson Miller, Gracie Griffin, Micah Cupples, Holley Ray Sheals, and Lauren Maness. All-state performer Miller exits Marion with single-season school records in batting average (.578), slugging (1.363), on-base percentage (.656), home runs (18), triples (10), doubles (13), runs batted in (52), runs scored (57), and hits (59). The all-state performer will continue her softball career at West Georgia. Van Buren took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a two-run single, but the Pats hit the comeback trail in the top of the fourth, when sophomore leftfielder Kelsey Eppes (2-4 with two RBI and a run scored) singled to left field and moved to second when freshman designated hitter Chloe Miller (1-3 with a run scored) reached on a textbook bunt. Catcher Jacey Holder drew a two-out walk before giving way to courtesy runner Cupples. Claire Hall clutched up and pounded a single to centerfield to bring Eppes and Chloe Miller to the plate to tie the game at two. Kelsey Baker followed Hall's knock with a double to plate Cupples and Marion led 3-2 at the halfway point. Facing a bases-loaded situation with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth, shortstop Brianna Morquecho fielded a hard-hit ball and flipped it quickly to Baker at second before completing a double play with a strike to Hall. The twin-killing plated a run, but the Pats were just an out away from entering the fifth inning even. Instead, Van Buren brought two more runs to the plate for a 5-3 lead and Marion went in order in the fifth, setting the stage for another two-run Van Buren rally in the home half. Van Buren led 10-3 in the seventh when Hall walked and centerfielder McKenzie Shinabery was hit by a pitch with two outs, setting the stage for an Eppes triple that plated a pair of runs and cap the scoring. Miller and Griffin are the only two Marion starters expected to graduate in May, and the Pats could return starters at seven spots.