Good teams find a way to win games no matter what type of deficit they may be facing. That's why Marion's 9-8 victory in eight innings last Thursday afternoon at the Marion Sports Complex could prove poignant. The Patriots trailed 7-1 when they came to bat in the bottom of the third before the hosts eight of the last nine runs, including three in the bottom of the seventh, to win by a run in extra innings when senior Brianna Morquecho delivered Alexis Jones on a sacrifice fly for the game-winning run. Marion outhit Covington 11-4 in the victory, with senior Kelsey Baker (2-4 with two runs and an RBI) and juniors Kelsey Eppes (2-4 with two runs and an RBI) and Anna Hitchman (3-4 with two RBI and a run) all accounting for multiple hits. That trio all roped doubles against Covington. Senior Anna Murphy worked the final seven innings on Thursday, allowing three hits with three strikeouts and just a pair of earned runs to pick up the victory. Covington charged out to a 5-0 lead after the top of the second inning, but Marion (19-6 overall, 11-1 5A East) hit the comeback trail when Hitchman singled and scored on a Murphy single to push the Pats within 5-1 after a pair. But the Chargers picked up two more unearned runs in the top of the third, leaving Marion in its largest deficit in more than a month. Marion continued chipping away in the home half of the third when Morquecho singled, stole second, moved to third on an error, and came to the plate on Baker's double. Hitchman delivered Baker with Hitchman's second hit to make the score 7-3 after three. Murphy and Marion's stingy defense collaborated to retire eight consecutive Chargers between the third and fifth innings, which gave the Pats a chance to rally. Marion took advantage when Eppes singled and scored on Hitchman's double to get Marion within three after five frames. But a pair of hits in the sixth inning reinstated Covington's four-run lead entering the bottom of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, junior Ella McConnell singled and moved to third on a throwing error before senior Claire Hall chased McConnell with a hit to get the hosts within 8-5. Marion threw up a perfect seventh inning but needed three to tie in the bottom half. The Pats got one when Baker led off with a single and scored on Eppes' double, and Eppes came around on a Covington error to make it 8-7. Jones entered as a courtesy runner for Holder and Jones went first to third on a Murphy hit. McConnell tied the game when she hit a rocket to third base to score Jones. Playing under international rules in the eighth inning, both teams opened their at-bats with a runner on second. Marion retired the first two Chargers on strikeouts before the Pats issued an intentional walk to shortstop Gracyn Ramsey, who'd gone 2-3 with three walks at Marion. The maneuver paid off when Baker made a nice play going to her left and threw to Hitchman at third to record a force out and give Marion a chance to walk it off with just a single run in the bottom of the eighth. With Jones representing Hall at second base, Marion centerfielder Mckenzie Shinabery bunted Jones to third before Morquecho jumped on the first pitch, driving it far enough to center field to easily score the speedy Jones for Marion's most dramatic win of the season. WHAT'S NEXT? Marion hosts Greene County Tech (18-4 overall, 11-1 5A East) on Tuesday for the final conference doubleheader of the 2023 season. Should either team sweep, that team would earn the 2023 5A East conference title, and in the event of a split, it would come down to winning margin for each team. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Marion can not finish worse than the No. 2 playoff seed regardless of what happens on Tuesday against Greene County Tech. 5A EAST STANDINGS ON MAY 1 SCHOOL CONF. RECORD Marion 11-1+ Greene Co. Tech 11-1+ Searcy 9-3+ Valley View 8-4+ Nettleton 4-8 Batesville 2-10 Paragould 2-10 W. Memphis 1-11 +clinched playoff berth