GREENWOOD -- Lake Hamilton added five runs to a 3-0 lead Thursday in the fourth inning to take control of a first-round game in the Class 6A state softball tournament against Pine Bluff.
The Lady Wolves (17-10) took advantage of two errors and added two hits of their own in the second inning for a 3-0 lead. It was all the support junior Charlye Rowland and senior Annalee Diehl needed in the circle as they combined for a one-hit shutout, striking out 14 batters combined in the 10-0 run-rule victory in six innings against the Lady Zebras (11-18).
"The girls came out and took care of business today," said Lake Hamilton head coach Amy Teague. "It took us a little bit to get going, but once we got going, we did well."
Lake Hamilton entered the tournament as the fourth seed from the 6A-West, while Pine Bluff was the fifth seed from the 6A-East. The Lady Wolves will now take on the No. 1 seed from the East, Marion (15-8), which claimed the top seed a week ago with a 3-2 victory against Searcy (10-13).
Senior designated player Anna Richardson opened the bottom half of the fourth inning with a 10-pitch at-bat against Pine Bluff senior pitcher Sierra Johnson. Richardson fouled off seven pitches before lining a hit into left field on a 2-2 count. Teague said the at-bat was key in Lake Hamilton opening the game.
"Anna has been doing a good job for us all year," Teague said. "She has been our DP most of the year. She is a kid that focuses on her job and she is going to do her job to the best of her ability. I can't ask for anything else."
Richardson stole second base before senior shortstop Natalie Rogers reached base on a walk. Junior left fielder Sydney Campbell loaded the bases with no outs on a bunt that was fielded less than five feet in front of home plate.
Senior leadoff center fielder Madison Hardcastle sent Richardson home on a deep sacrifice fly to center field. Her counterpart for Pine Bluff, sophomore Talah Hunter, tested two runners at home plate on sacrifice fly balls, but Richardson scored safely.
Rowland earned an RBI herself with a ground ball up the middle that was stopped by the second baseman, but no play was made. Senior catcher Hailee Quiici gave Lake Hamilton an 8-0 lead with an inside-the-park home run.
Quilici sent a deep fly ball into right-center field that bounced off Hunter's glove as she reached out to make a play. Hunter sustained a leg injury on the play and was carried off the field. A coach for Pine Bluff later said the injury was not thought to be severe.
Rogers added a run in the fifth inning to make the score 9-0. She reached base on a fielder's choice and took third base on a passed ball. Campbell drove her in with an RBI bunt.
Quilici picked up her third hit of the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Junior Jessye Rowland kept the inning alive with a two-out walk before freshman third baseman Claire Evans drove in Quilici for the decisive 10-0 lead with a hit to right field.
The Lady Wolves had 11 hits and earned four walks. Teague said she is still looking for the lineup to be more decisive.
"We need to be a little bit more aggressive at the plate," Teague said.
"We were kind of complacent," Teague added. "Hopefully, we can get that fixed before tomorrow."
Quilici led the way for Lake Hamilton, going 3-or-4 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs. Six of the team's 11 hits and seven of the 10 runs were from spots 5-9 in the lineup.
Rowland earned the win with nine strikeouts, one hit batter, no walks and no runs allowed in four innings. Diehl allowed no runs in two innings of relief with five strikeouts, no walks and only one hit allowed.
Sports on 05/11/2018