Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Farmington gets 14 hits, tops Maumelle

- RICK FIRES

FARMINGTON — Farmington took control early in the first round of the 5A-West Conference Tournament.

Farmington scored four runs in the second inning and eased to a 10-0 victory over Maumelle on Monday in a game called in the sixth inning because of the 10run mercy rule. Top-seeded Farmington (22-7) advanced to a second-round home game against Vilonia on Thursday and also clinched a spot in next week’s Class 5A State Tournament at Sylvan Hills.

Farmington pounded out 14 hits with each batter in the starting lineup contribute­d at least one. Eliana Marano, the No. 8 hitter, used her speed to collect three hits.

“In this classifica­tion, if you have a hole in the lineup, it’s definitely going to be exploited,” Farmington coach Randy Osnes said. “We hit some balls hard and put it in play. Eliana Marano is incredibly fast and Anna Bennett did a great job today.”

Cleanup hitter Alyssa Reed drove in three runs with a double and two more on a single to help Farmington to a 5-0 lead after two innings. The Lady Cardinals had four hits in the second inning, and Maumelle (12-12) contribute­d two errors.

“We had to play a perfect game against Farmington, one of the best teams in the state, and we didn’t do it,” Maumelle coach Jarred White said.

Maumelle had a chance to take the lead in the first inning against Farmington right-hander Paige Deveccsery. Cat McNeil hit a oneout double to right field to put two runners in scoring position, but Reagan Pierce and Irianna Allen both struck out to end the threat.

Deveccsery settled into a groove and finished with 11 strikeouts while holding Maumelle to only one more hit.

“I left it up to my No. 4 and 5 hole hitters after Cat hit one off the wall, and we just couldn’t get it done,” White said. “We couldn’t hit the outside pitch all year and people took advantage of it. That’s something we’re really going to work on in the off-season.”

Maumelle 000 000 — 0 2 3 Farmington 140 212 — 10 14 1

Almond, Pierce (5) and McNeil; Deveccsery and Reed. W — Deveccsery. L — Almond.

 ?? NWA Democrat-Gazette/MARK HUMPHREY ?? Mamelle catcher Catherine McNeil (right) tags out Farmington freshman Kelly Stout at the plate Monday.
NWA Democrat-Gazette/MARK HUMPHREY Mamelle catcher Catherine McNeil (right) tags out Farmington freshman Kelly Stout at the plate Monday.

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