Lady Bucks fall to Genoa 7-1

ASHDOWN – Smackover got on the bus searching for competition. Saturday, the Lady Bucks found it at the Ashdown Tournament.

Genoa Central handed Smackover a 7-1 loss in the semifinals. It was the Lady Bucks' first defeat since the quarterfinals of the 3A State Tournament in 2019.

The Lady Dragons held Smackover to just four hits in seven innings.

“It was good,” Smackover coach Dennis Steele said of the pitching. “That's why we wanted to get in here. We wanted to face some good teams with good pitching. Like I told the girls, Genoa will be in our regional. This game here didn't mean anything. We just have to regroup and when we play them in the regionals, hopefully, we'll have a better at bat.”

Smackover (3-1) was scheduled to face Waldron in the third place game Saturday night.

The Lady Bucks blitzed Liberty Eylau 15-0 in three innings on Friday. At the end of the season, Saturday's loss might do them a lot more good.

“Everyone wants to go undefeated. I mean, I hate to lose, too,” said Steele. “We got into this tournament to play some good teams and that's what it is. That's the only way you're going to get better. You can't go and play teams that you 10-run every game and get any better that way.”

Genoa scored all seven runs in the first two innings against Karis Robinson. Only three of the runs were earned. The Lady Bucks committed five errors in the game.

Malorie Pullin came on in relief and pitched 4 2/3, striking out three batters.

Smackover's lone run came in the third. Brea Boyce and Reese McKinnon both singled with Pullin's base hit knocking in the run.

Pullin tossed a three-inning no-hitter in the circle for Smackover on Friday. The junior faced the minimum of nine batters, striking out eight of them. She recorded the other out, fielding a bunt and throwing to first for the putout.

Offensively, Smackover tallied 13 hits in three trips to the plate.

“We scored nine of our runs with two outs. We really concentrated on hitting the ball well,” said Steele. “It was raining the whole game. The field was mud and it was cold. The girls really played outstanding. I'm so proud of them.”

Smackover scored two in the first. With two outs, Lindy Bates and Robinson both doubled to plate a run. Mackenzie Preston followed with a RBI single.

In the Lady Bucks' fourrun second, Boyce and McKinnon both singled. After a walk loaded the bases, Pullin stroked a two-run double. Robinson drove in two more with a two-out double.

Smackover closed it out with nine runs in the third. Gabbi Kelly doubled off the fence and scored on McKinnon's single. Claire Schibler was hit by a pitch and Hannah Parker walked to load the bases. Bates hit a two-run single before Robinson stroked a three-run home run.

Boyce would drive in two with a double before McKinnon scored a run with a base hit.