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Three days after suffering a 15-run loss at R-S Central, Polk County’s softball team delivered a much-improved performance Friday, though the Wolverines still fell 6-3 in Mountain Foothills 7 Conference action at Polk County.

The Wolverines (4-4, 0-2) demonstrated resilience by taking an early lead in the bottom of the first inning when Mia Bradley drew a walk and later scored on Sarah Vitale’s two-out RBI single to give Polk a 1-0 advantage.

After R-S Central (4-1, 2-0) responded with two runs in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead, Polk County answered immediately in the bottom half of the frame. Bradley started the rally with a single before Laney Littlefield reached on an error. With one out, Sarah Vitale delivered her second RBI single of the game, followed by Elizabeth Vitale’s run-scoring single to push the Wolverines back in front 3-2.

The lead proved short-lived, though, as the Hilltoppers seized control in the fourth inning. R-S Central plated three runs to take a 5-3 lead they would not relinquish. The visitors added an insurance run in the sixth inning to extend their advantage to 6-3.

Bradley finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored while Sarah Vitale led the Wolverines with a 2-for-3 performance that included two RBI. Elizabeth Vitale contributed a 1-for-2 showing with an RBI to round out Polk County’s offensive production.

“I thought we played well tonight,” said Polk County head coach Phillip Miller. “We could just as easily have hung our heads (after Tuesday’s loss), but we didn’t. We came in and fought and at least we had a chance, and that’s all you want, a chance. That’s what we preached since Tuesday and we delivered. That’s all we can do.”

The Wolverines will look to return to the win column on Tuesday as they host non-conference foe Landrum at 4 p.m.