Marion Athletics -

With four games left to play in the 5A East schedule, the Marion Patriots were in a good position to return to the postseason.

With two games left to play, Marion needs to win out and get some help.

Batesville rode an opportunistic offense and two strong starts on the hill to a pair of 3-1 victories over Marion on Wednesday evening at First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas Stadium, giving the Pioneers a one-game edge on Marion for the fourth and final playoff spot from the 5A East with two games left on each team's slate.

Marion wraps its 2026 league slate on Tuesday at second-place Greene County Tech, while Batesville plays its final two contests against Nettleton.

Senior right-hander and Ouachita Baptist signee Coleman Barnett gave Marion a chance in the first game, spinning 6.2 strong innings, and surrendering only six hits, while striking out five, but Batesville's Cole Bentz earned the victory on the bump after scattering nine hits over 6.1 innings.

Bentz gave way to Jake Daugherty in the seventh inning, and Daugherty retired both Patriots he faced to pick up the save.

Marion had at least one hit in six of the seven innings of the first contest, but scored its only run in the fifth when Sullivan “Sully” McKewen singled and scored on a Brody Byrd groundout.

The Pats scored first in the nightcap when Liam Henry led off the third inning with a double and scored on a Solomon Flores sacrifice fly, but the Pioneers evaded further damage by stranding the bases loaded.

Batesville scored three times in the fourth inning to give Hayes Kibe all the breathing room he would need to pick up the victory.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Marion concludes 5A East play on Tuesday, May 5, with a doubleheader at Greene County Tech.

5A EAST RESULTS 4/29
Batesville 3, Marion 1
Batesville 3, Marion 1

Valley View 15, Paragould 2
Valley View 11, Paragould 1

W. Memphis 18, Nettleton 4
W. Memphis 12, Nettleton 10

Greene Co. Tech 4, Searcy 0
Greene Co. Tech 2, Searcy 0

5A EAST SERIES ON 5/5
Marion at Greene Co. Tech
Valley View at Searcy
Batesville at Nettleton
Paragould at W. Memphis