The Bell County Lady Cats used a big sixth inning rally Monday to bury Pineville in the opening round of the 50th District Tournament at Middlesboro.

The Lady Lions led 2-1 after 3 1/2 innings and were down by just a run heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, but Bell pulled away for a 9-3 victory.

Amber Taylor led off the inning with a walk and McKayla Robbins entered as a pinch runner. Kristen Baker also drew a walk and Rachel Blank followed with a bunt single to load the bases.

Katie Dixon pushed Bell's lead to 6-3 with a two-run single to left field. Datina Centers drove in Blank with a groundout for a four run lead.

Pineville coach Rheagan Redmond called for a pitching change, bringing in Brittany Smith in relief of starter Mary Adams. Smith walked Tracy Laws and Angela Turner capped the scoring with an RBI single past third base.

Laws tossed a scoreless seventh inning to close out the victory.

Dixon led Bell County with a double and two singles. Angela Turner singled twice and Blank and Laws each added a single.

Kasey Rorick led Pineville with a pair of singles and Leslie Howard added a single.

Bell took an early lead in the second as Angela Turner walked, took second and third on wild pitches and scored on a groundout by her sister, Angel Turner.

Pineville took the lead in the third as Adams and Melodye Smith drew consecutive walks. Stephanie Smith grounded to first, but reached on an error, which allowed Adams to tie the game at 1-1. Rorick followed with a bloop single over second base to give the Lady Lions a 2-1 lead.

Bell answered in the bottom of the third. Katie Dixon singled and stole second and third. Centers followed with a walk and Laws hit a run-scoring single back up the middle. Angela Turner followed with an RBI single to left field and Laws scored on a wild pitch to put Bell on top 4-2.

Pineville cut into the lead in the sixth as Becky Combs drew a walk and Fuston followed with another walk. After Laws recorded a strikeout, Leslie Howard swatted a RBI single over short to drive in Combs.

Bell County (15-14) advances to the district finals today at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Cats will play Middlesboro, who advanced with a forfeit win over Red Bird.

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Pineville 002 001 0 - 3 3 2

Bell County 013 005 x - 9 7 1

Adams, B. Smith (6) and Howard; Laws and Dixon. W-Laws. L-Adams.