SOFTBALL: Another comeback win for the PCHS at A-J
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Pinckneyville softball moved into a three-way tie atop the Mississippi Division with a 6-5 victory at Anna-Jonesboro on Thursday, coming from behind after trailing 4-2 in the fifth inning.
The Lady Wildcats jumped out to a 1-0 lead off of Sara Malanowski in the first, but Taylor Cicardi smacked a two-run homer in the top of the second to put PCHS ahead 2-1.
A-J picked up two runs in the bottom of the second, then added another in the third before the Lady Panthers strung together three hits and three walks in the fifth to score four times and take the lead for good.
Malanowski (9-1) surrendered an unearned run in the sixth, but picked up her ninth victory of the season with the complete game. The senior allowed 4 earned runs on 9 hits, one walk and one hit batter.
At the plate, Cicardi led the way with a 2-for-3 effort, also connecting for a double to go along with her home run in the second. Melia Bathon was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Mo Ramsey (1-4, R, 2 RBI) returned to action after leaving Tuesday's game against Carterville following a collision at the plate.
If rain stays out of the area long enough to keep the fields ready for play, the Lady Panthers (15-2) are scheduled to host Pleasant Plains at 4:15 p.m. on Friday, then are part of the seven-team Southern Illinois Showcase this Saturday at the Perry County Fairgrounds.
Pinckneyville will meet Teutopolis on Greg Hale field at 10:00 a.m., then return around 2:30 p.m. to take on Shelbyville.
Other action on Saturday includes: Pleasant Plains vs. Marissa-Coulterville (10:00 a.m.), Johnston City vs. Teutopolis (11:30 a.m.), Carterville vs. Pleasant Plains (11:30 a.m.), Carterville vs. Shelbyville (1:00 p.m.), and Marissa-Coulterville vs. Johnston City (1:00 p.m.).