The Pike Lady Patriots picked up a key area win on Tuesday when they held off the Monroe Volunteers 11-9.

“It was big, it makes us 3-0 in the region,” said Patriots head coach Robert Rollan. “When we get back from spring break we go to Monroe for a double-header. Now the pressure is on them. Now they have to win that first one for the tiebreaker to come into play.”

Pitcher Bailey Rushing picked up the win for the Patriots. “She was a little off,” Rollan said. “She worked through it. She hit several batters because the fastball she likes to throw on the inside was running a bit too far inside. She still got out there and battled even though her pitches weren’t as sharp as they were against Abbeville.”

The Patriots took a 5-3 lead into the top of the fifth inning before the Volunteers made their move and evened up the score at 5-5 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

The Patriots had their second big inning of the game when they put six runs on the board in the sixth. They were fueled by a bunt single off the bat of Mallory Clifton with two runners on with nobody out.

The Volunteers made one final push in the late innings and cut the deficit to 11-9 but couldn’t get the big hit in the seventh to break through.

Sam Yarbrough and Rushing finished the game 2-3 with two runs batted in, while Amanda Finlayson broke out of a mini slump with two hits.

The Patriots will return to action on Thursday when they play Edgewood in the Macon East Tournament at 6 p.m.