Hargett paves way for El Dorado rout

CLASS 6A EL DORADO 10, JACKSONVILLE 1

BENTON — El Dorado sophomore Grace Hargett struck out nine batters and carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning to lead the Lady Wildcats to a 10-1 opening-round victory Thursday at the Class 6A state softball tournament.

“You can’t say enough about what she did out there today,” El Dorado Coach Chris Ezell said.

El Dorado (16-9) pounced on eight Jacksonville errors, turning them into eight unearned runs, including multirun innings in the third, fourth and seventh.

“Our goal today, and every day, is to put the ball in play and force the defense to make something happen,” Ezell said.

El Dorado third baseman Kelsey Howard tripled and scored the game’s first run on a wild pitch in the third inning. Shortstop Allyson Silmon walked and came around on a throwing error as the Lady Wildcats took a 2-0 lead.

El Dorado added two runs in the top of the fourth when Sally Walthall scored when Howard reached on an error to extend the inning. Another error brought Walthall in for a 4-0 advantage.

Armed with a four-run lead, Hargett did not allow a baserunner until she issued a lead-off walk to Allison Seats in the bottom of the fourth, but stranded her there when she retired the next three batters.

Hargett, who walked five batters, did not allow a hit until Seats singled to left-center field in the top of the sixth. Third baseman Jordan Moody scored Seats with a sacrifice fly to get the Lady Titans within 4-1.

El Dorado responded with a six-run seventh to put the game out of reach.

The rally began with a single by catcher Marissa Rice and was extended when Peyton Scarlett reached on an error and Walthall walked to load the bases.

Center fielder Grace Murray had a two-run double and came across with Walthall when Howard reached on an error.

“That was an excellent response by our team,” Ezell said. “I knew when they got that run back that it was important for us to respond back. I really challenged them between innings to not let that be the final score. Let’s put a little distance between us there so it’s a little easier to play defense in the seventh and I thought that was important.”

El Dorado advanced to a quarterfinal contest against Sheridan at 10 a.m. today.