Smackover blanks Ashdown 5-0
ASHDOWN - Smackover's Malorie Pullin tossed a no-hitter Saturday as the Lady Bucks beat Ashdown 5-0 in the championship game of the 3A Region 4 Softball Tournament. Smackover improved to 28-2 while Ashdown fell to 17-4 in the drama-filled title game.
"This was huge for our girls," said Smackover coach Dennis Steele. "They played a tremendous game. I can't say enough about how we played. We did some good things."
Pullin struck out 16 batters while walking one and hitting three. The batters she hit all came in the third inning, when Ashdown loaded the bases.
"There was a big ruckus because she hit two batters in a row," said Steele. "They wanted her thrown out of the game.
They knew they couldn't touch her. I mean, we sure as heck aren't going to hit their eight and nine hitters. That would not happen. The ball just ran on her."
Despite cross words from both sides, the junior remained in the circle and was dominant. She struck out the side to get out of the jam in the third inning.
"Malorie was in complete control the whole game," said Steele.
Smackover scored twice in the first. Gabbi Kelly tripled and Mackenzie Preston walked. Karis Robinson drove in a run with a ground out and Pullin plated a run with a sacrifice fly.
The Lady Bucks tacked on a run in the fifth when Kelly walked, stole second and scored on Robinson's two-out hit.
Smackover added two in the seventh. Robinson and Pullin both singled and advanced on a passed ball. Robinson would score on another passed ball and Pullin scored on Lindy Bates' RBI ground out.
Pullin was 3-for-3 at the plate while Robinson was 2-for-4. The Lady Bucks had eight hits in the game.