FAYETTEVILLE -- Jordan Ward made sure Mena was to repeat as Class 4A state softball champions Friday night.
The senior Lady Bearcats pitcher and University of Central Arkansas signee allowed one hit and also homered to lead Mena to a 3-0 victory over Pocahontas at Bogle Park on the University of Arkansas campus.
Mena (22-7) won its second consecutive state championship. The Lady Bearcats defeated Bauxite in last year's 4A state final.
"These girls have a no-quit sense about them," Mena Coach Ray Hunter said. "I can't tell you how clutch they are. They go out and make plays. They make good things happen."
Ward (12-4) struck out 10 in a complete game and was 2 for 4 in an 11-hit attack.
"I just kept pushing and had the team behind me," Ward said. "We had each other's back. Just knowing that, no mater what, we would be there."
Said Hunter: "She was really on tonight. You can't even talk about our team without talking about Jordan and how well she pitches."
Mena stranded six runners in the first five innings, but broke through in the top of the sixth inning with a two-out rally.
Shortstop Sealy Thigpen got Mena going with a base hit to left field. First baseman Madelyn Brotherton reached with a single to put runners on first and second.
On a 2-1 pitch by Pocahontas starter Kristen Wiseman, left fielder Reagan Sikes singled to center to score Thigpen for a 1-0 lead.
Ward helped her cause in the top of the seventh inning when she homered to left field off Wiseman. Third baseman Kenzi Spurgin and right fielder Lexi Brooks had back-to-back singles, then two batters later, Spurgin scored on second baseman Kristen Kesterson's groundout to extend Mena's advantage.
Ward gave up her only hit in the fifth when Pocahontas right fielder Morgan Baker led off with a double to left. Baker was sacrificed to third by designated player Bryan Palmer. But she was tagged out when left fielder Adrian Rutter hit a ground ball to Ward, who threw to the third where Baker was caught off the base.
Pocahontas Coach Jerry Sharp admitted after the game that he should have let Rutter hit away.
"All year long, we've been working the small stuff and getting the runners in because we're not as big and strong as everybody else," Sharp said. "When we get chances to score, we have to put it in play. It's one of those deals."
Wiseman (14-3) scattered 11 hits and allowed 3 runs in 7 innings for the Lady Redskins (24-5). She struck out two and didn't walk a batter.
"She did a great job tonight," Sharp said. "We just couldn't push any runs across for her."
Spurgin led Mena offensively with three hits. Brooks added two.
For Ward, she heads to UCA as a two-time state champion.
"We all worked so hard for our program," Ward said. "It's a dream come true for all of us."
Mena (22-7);000 001 2 -- 3 11 1
Pocahontas (24-5);000 000 0 -- 0 1 0
Ward and Macy Brotherton. Wiseman and Graves. W -- Ward. L -- Wiseman.
Sports on 05/21/2016