Benson's RBI single lifts Polson

POLSON — Staci Benson’s single to right field scored Kylie Knutson from third base in the bottom half of the seventh inning on Friday as Polson rallied past Libby 4-3 in Northwestern A softball play.

Benson’s game-winning hit came with one out.

Polson scored twice in the inning to pull it out.

Polson’s Shalaina Duford tied the game at 3-all when she doubled with runners on second and first to left center to score Ashley Johnson.

Libby took a 3-2 lead by scoring three runs in the top of the seventh.

“It seemed like they need to be pushed against the wall,” Polson coach Larry Smith said of his team. “They responded to it very well.”

Jaime Gilden had the game’s other extra base hit —  a double. Libby’s leadoff hitter went 2-for-4.

Candace Hendrickson had 2 RBIs for Libby.

“Both our defenses made some nice plays,” Smith said. “Both teams were putting the bat on the ball. There were only six strikeouts between the two teams.”

Polson, 8-1 overall and 4-0 league, plays at Hamilton, 11 a.m., and Corvallis, 4 p.m. today.

Libby plays Belgrade in Frenchtown today.

Libby    000    000    3    —    3    6    2

Polson    020    000    2    —    4    7    3

Taylor Armstrong and Lexi Hageness; Shalaina Duford and Kayla Duford. W — S. Duford (6 hits, 3 strikeouts, 4 walks), 8-1. L — Hageness.

LIBBY — Jaime Gilden 2-4, Alyssa Walker 1-4, Hageness 0-3, Alysha Martin 0-3, Kim Tangen 1-4, Candace Hendrickson 1-3, LaRona Luscher 0-2, Taylor Barton 0-3, Armstrong 1-3.

POLSON — Staci Benson 1-4, Kodi Woods 1-3, K. Duford 0-3, Riley Kenney 1-3, Sallie Sams 1-3, Makaliah Wilson 1-3, Ashley Johnson 1-2, Kylie Knutson 1-2, Martina Marquardt 0-0, S. Duford 1-3.

2B—Gilden; S. Duford; RBIs—Walker, Hendrickson (2); Benson, S. Duford.