It came down to the final outs on Tuesday night, but the Pike Liberal Arts Lady Patriots fell to Fort Dale 12-11 in walk-off fashion in the season opener in Greenville.

The Patriots went into the bottom of the seventh inning leading 11-6; by inning’s end, the Eagles had a 12-11 win.

Dannah Dawson went the distance for the Patriots. She allowed 12 total runs, six of which were earned. She allowed 12 hits and four walks, while striking out nine batters.

The Patriots finished with 14 hits, led by Morgan Bundy and Dawson, whom both went 2-4 with three RBI. Grace Rushing, Maggie Phelps and Mallory Clifton also had two hits. Avery Henderson, Aubreigh Maulden, Emily Williamson and Sarah Elizabeth Calhoun all had one hit.

After scoring five runs over the first three innings, the Lady Patriots entered the top of the fifth trailing by one at 6-5.

Phelps singled on a line drive to center to drive in both Maulden and Rushing to give the Patriots a 7-6 lead. Dawson came up three batters later and singled to right, scoring Phelps and Williamson to go up 9-6. Bundy put the Patriots up four at 10-6 when she hit a line drive to left to score Dawson.

After Grace Rushing put the Patriots up by five after reaching on an error, the Patriots went into he seventh leading 11-6.

The Eagles began the inning with a solo home run to right field. They finished the inning with six hits, including a game-winning RBI.

The Lady Patriots will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on Lee-Scott. Junior varsity will begin the day at 4 p.m. with the varsity hitting the field shortly after.