HARRISON -- Bald Knob ended a great first day for Region 2 teams by knocking off Fouke 12-3 Thursday evening in the opening round of the Class 3A softball state tournament at Community First Sports Complex
Harding Academy began a perfect 4-0 day for Region 2 teams when it defeated Fordyce 1-0 behind a 13-strikeout performance from pitcher Amanda Berry. Benton Harmony Grove demolished Horatio 19-1 and Perryville, the No. 4 seed from the region, knocked off Region 4 champion Genoa Central 6-3.
Bald Knob didn't waste any time jumping on Fouke either as catcher Christianna Camp belted a grand slam over the left-field wall in the first inning, scoring Autumn Humes, Taylor Varnell and Brooke Mason for a 4-0 advantage.
The Lady Bulldogs made it 9-0 in the bottom of the second when Logan Jackson led off with a single that was followed by another single from Lindsey Duncan. Humes, Bald Knob's starting pitcher, helped herself out with an RBI single before Varnell reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Mason singled to score Duncan, and an error allowed Humes and Varnell to come home.
An error on a grounder by Britain Brooks allowed Mason to score for a 9-0 lead.
It looked like Bald Knob was headed for a mercy-rule victory after scoring 9 runs on 7 hits and 3 errors in the first 2 innings, but Fouke played even with the Lady Bulldogs over the last five innings.
Fouke got on the board in the top of the third when Ashlen Upton walked with two outs, reached second on a balk and scored on a double by Madison Oliver.
After Bald Knob was held scoreless in the third, Fouke got another run in the top of the fourth when Jamie Johnson led off with a walk and eventually scored on a two-out double by Emily McFerrin.
Bald Knob got both those runs back, scoring twice on three hits in the bottom of the fourth. Brooks had a two-run double to give the Lady Bulldogs an 11-2 lead.
Fouke scored its final run of the night in the top of the sixth when Johnson doubled with one out and scored on a two-out single by Taylor Upton.
Bald Knob finished up the scoring in the bottom of the sixth when Varnell led off with a double and scored on an error.
The Lady Bulldogs finished with 12 hits, and all but one player had at least one hit. Duncan, Humes, Mason, Brooks and Camp each had two hits. Varnell had one hit but scored four times, and Mason scored three runs.
Humes earned the victory, allowing 5 hits, striking out 8 and walking 4.
McFerrin led Fouke with two hits.
Sports on 05/16/2014