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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

CHELSEA – The Spain Park Jaguars may have been down, but they were not out as they rallied to defeat the Chelsea Hornets.

Spain Park overcame a late two-run deficit to defeat Chelsea 5-4 on Thursday, April 10 at the Chelsea Sports Complex.

The Hornets struck first in the crucial area showdown as they overcame a two-out hole following Katie Hopson’s lead-off single. Lorelei Beck launched a home run to left field to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.

That lead held through the end of the second inning before the Jags got a break to start the third inning thanks to back-to-back one-out walks.

Two batters later, Klara Thompson doubled to center to score Charlee Bennett from second and halve the deficit to 2-1.

Hopson restored the two-run lead in emphatic fashion in the bottom of the third as she led off the inning with a solo shot for the 3-1 lead.

Spain Park then loaded up the bases with two singles and a walk during the first four at-bats. Chelsea then opted to get the out at second after fielding a ground ball to short, allowing Allie Whitaker to score and cut the deficit to 3-2.

While Maxie Provost struck out the side in the bottom of the fourth, the Hornets got their offense going again in the fifth. After a Hopson single and Caroline Brown walk put two on with one out, Sydney Carroll’s ground ball to second allowed Hopson to score and extend the lead to 4-2.

After a scoreless sixth, Spain Park made its move in the top of the seventh.

Down to their last chance at the plate, the Jags overcame a lead-off ground out with back-to-back singles from Reagan Roberts and Whitaker. Tatum Lasseter then cut the gap to one run with a ground ball to third that Chelsea sent to second instead of home plate.

However, all runners were safe, leaving two runners on. Emma Parmley recovered with a strikeout, but disaster then struck for the Hornets at the worst time.

Jordan Weiner reached base on an infield error that cleared the bags, sending Whitaker and the pinch runner Skylar Simpkins home to give Spain Park a 5-4 lead.

Provost then finished the job with two strikeouts and a quick ground out as the Jags escaped with a one-run win.

Roberts finished 3-for-4 with a run while Lasseter was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Provost got the win with 4.2 innings of relief, allowing just one run off one hit and a walk while striking out six batters.

For the Hornets, Hopson finished 3-for-4 with three runs and an RBI.

Spain Park is now 21-16 overall and 3-1 in area play. The Jags will start their final week of area play with a road trip to the Pelham Panthers on Tuesday, April 15 at 4:30 p.m.

After a 3-1 weekend at the Hornet Invitational, Chelsea is now 24-11-1 on the year and 3-2 in area play. The Hornets will finish area play on Tuesday, April 15 on the road at Helena, with the first pitch for their game against the Huskies set for 4:30 p.m.