Smackover rallies past Ashdown 8-5

SMACKOVER - On the heels of a thrilling victory over Ashdown to win their tournament over the weekend, Smackover turned the trick for the second time by holding off the Lady Panthers 8-5

in a 7-3A clash on Tuesday.

Smackover won the previous encounter 14-13 in eight innings on Saturday in the finals of the Ashdown Tournament, rallying from down 11-6 to force extra innings before scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth to erase a 13-11 deficit to win.

It would be the same on Tuesday, as the Lady Bucks (8-0, 1-0) found themselves down 3-0 before tying the game in the bottom of the third and taking the lead for good with a three-run fourth.

Karli Goocher, who tied the game in the eighth inning with a two-run homer on Saturday, got Smackover back on even terms with a three-run blast that was preceded by singles by Gabbi Kelly and Lydia Pullin.

In the fourth, Vanessa Lofton singled and Hannah Parker reached on an error to put a pair of runners on base.

Two outs later, Goocher delivered again, lacing a run-scoring single to give Smackover its first lead of the game.

Malorie Pullin then followed with a two-run double to make it 6-3.

Smackover tacked on two runs in the fifth with Lofton driving in Lindy Bates, who had walked, with a triple.

Lofton then scored on an RBI groundout by

Parker.

Pullin made the lead stand up, finishing with a four-hitter and 10 strikeouts, although she walked six and hit three batters.

Lydia Pullin led Smackover's attack by going 3-for-4 at the plate. Goocher drove in four runs while going 2-for-4 in the win. Malorie Pullin went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Lofton was 2-for-3 with an RBI and Bates was 1-for-2.

Kelly, who Smackover coach Dennis Steele lauded for a great defensive play by hauling in a sinking line drive in left field, had one hit and one RBI.

The Lady Bucks will host McGehee on Thursday before taking on Camden Fairview Friday at the Lady Cat Classic.