Lady Bucks knock off PC 8-0
NORPHLET - If there has been one constant for Smackover early in the 2017 season, it has been dominant pitching,
On Friday afternoon, Ashley Haynes delivered another, firing a four-hit shutout to lead Smackover to an 8-0 win over Parkers Chapel.
After allowing a double in the first to Kaylin Waller, Haynes kept the Lady Trojans hitless until the seventh.
She didn't issue any walks and struck out five in pitching Smackover's fifth shutout in their 10th game of the season.
"She was in complete command," said Smackover coach Dennis Steele. "She had all of her pitches working. She pitched a very good game. When you can shut out Parkers Chapel, you're doing something right. She just pitched a whale of a game. She hit her corners and her spots tremendously, plus we had pretty good defense behind
her."
Smackover (8-2) gave Haynes all the run support she would need with a six-run uprising in the second. With a runner at first and one out, Lexi Gilbert and Lydia Pullin reached on consecutive errors to load the bases.
Alexis Cook got the Lady Bucks on the scoreboard by reaching on a fielder's choice, and the senior was safe as the result of a throwing error on the play.
With the bases reloaded, Sabrina Estridge laid down a bunt near the circle, but the throw to the plate was mishandled, allowing two runs to score to make it 3-0.
With runners now at second and third, Tessa Watson laced a tworun single to make it 5-0, and Reagan Richardson later delivered an RBI single to right to end the scoring in the frame.
"We hit the ball hard," Steele said. "I thought we ran the bases well, and we got some good twoout hits. I feel our girls are very good one through nine hitting, and we can do different things getting on base. I'm proud of them."
Richardson added an RBI single in the fourth, and the Lady Bucks scored their final run in the sixth on an error.
After breezing for most of the game, Haynes was able to pitch around back-to-back singles by Kenlee McAuliffe and Savannah Slaughter in the seventh.
Richardson had two singles and two RBIs for the Lady Bucks.
Courtney Phelps took the loss after allowing just four hits. She didn't issue any walks, hit one batter and struck out 10. Of the eight runs she allowed, none were earned.
Both teams will be participating in the El Dorado Chemical Classic Tournament at Norphlet today.