Lady Lions clinch No. 3 seed for state, win third place game at regional tournament
ASHDOWN — The Bismarck Lady Lions have clinched the No. 3 seed for the 2022 Class 3A State Softball Tournament after finishing third place at the 3A-4 Region Softball Tournament hosted in Ashdown.
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Thursday May 12, the No. 3 seed Lady Lions will begin their journey on the road to compete for their state title hopes in the 2022 Class 3A State Tournament and face the No. 2 seed Atkins in the opening round. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. at Equity Bank Sports Complex, in Harrison.
THE 3A-4 REGIONAL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT 2022 FIRST ROUND
Bismarck Lady Lions 11 Rison Lady Wildcats 6
The Lady Lions secured their postseason seed by defeating Rison 11-6 in an grueling eight inning showcase for their state qualifying match-up. Bismarck collected 11 runs on an impressive 14 hits by defensively holding the Lady Wildcats to score six runs on nine hits with five errors. Through seven innings of competitive play on the diamond, both teams were knotted 6-6 to force extra innings. In the eighth, Bismarck took their play to another level and out- shined Rison in execution to score six runs in the and defensively held the Lady Wi l d c a t s scoreless in their comeback. Avery Efird led the offensive execution in the frame and hammered four hits and scored a run. Alivia Gordon (two triples) and Anna Cain (triple) each collected three hits apiece, Cada Collins (triple) tallied up two hits, Hannah Collie and Audrey Kizziar each powered a hit apiece. Gordon drove in three runs for three RBIS, Collins and Cain each had two RBIS apiece, Collie and Erin Fendley both sparked for an RBI. Fendley led the base running and had one stolen base. In the pitcher’s circle, Kizziar pitched six and one-third innings, allowed nine hits, four earned runs and struck out seven batters and threw 78 strikes. Collie blazed up in the circle and pitched one and two-third innings allowing no runs, no hits and struck out four batters and threw 18 strikes across the plate.
SEMIFINALS Bismarck Lady Lions 3 Ashdown Lady Panthers 6
In another tough match-up, the Lady Lions fell short to their conference opponents Ashdown in a three-run defeat 6-3. Ashdown held a 6-2 advantage through the sixth inning.
Bismarck sparked for a run in their attempt of a comeback in the top of the seventh.
Bismarck sparked for three runs on four hits while the regional host team managed six runs on nine hits that made the difference in their match-up. Collins (triple) led the Lady Lions in the frame with two hits and scored a run. Gordon followed and collected a hit. Kizziar and Collie each drove in a run for an RBI while Collins, Fendley and Faith Billings led the scoring attack to soar around the bases to score a run apiece.
In the circle, Collie pitched six innings, allowed six hits, four runs, one earned run and struck out three batters and threw 51 strikes. Kizziar pitched two innings, allowed three hits, two earned runs and threw 19 strikes.
THIRD PLACE CONSOLATION GAME Bismarck Lady Lions 7 Fouke Lady Panthers 4
In their final match-up at regional, the Lady Lions handed their conference neighbors Fouke a 7-4 defeat despite both teams equaling their power in the frame with eight hits apiece. Bismarck won the scoring battle with seven key runs on eight hits and defensively held Fouke to four runs on eight hits with four errors.
Efird and Collins (double) led the offensive execution with two hits apiece, Collie (triple), Gordon, Cain and Norris (triple) each collected a hit. Collie drove in three runs for three RBIS, Collins and Norris each had an RBI. Efird scored two runs, Kizziar, Collie, Cain, N. Nopkau and Fendley each scored a run apiece to lead the scoring attack.
Cain led the base running with one stolen base. In the circle, Kizziar pitched five innings, allowed five hits, two earned runs, and threw 34 strikes.
Collie threw some heat in the circle and pitched three innings, allowed three hits, one earned run and struck out one batter, while throwing 28 strikes to ignite the strike zone from her work on the rubber.