Ladycats Run-Rule Lady Lizards

BY NORM BETZ –

The Mena Ladycats continued to roll as they defeated Dardanelle, 11-1, in six innings. Sophomore hurler Lexi Brooks picked up the win as she tossed six innings, giving up one run on four hits, walking four batters, and striking out six. Junior Daryan Torix led the Ladycats’ bats, picking up four RBI’s on three extra base hits.

Brooks struck out the side on 14 pitches, and the Ladycats went down in order as well in the bottom of the first, on a pop-up, ground out, and a strike out.

Dardanelle took the early 1-0 lead on a pair of hits in the top of the second. Senior Lexi Hansard picked up the first hit of the game for the Ladycats in the bottom of the second on a double to center field. Brooks walked and was replaced on first by sophomore courtesy runner Kensie Sawyer. Hansard stole third and Torix cleared the bases with a two RBI double to left field. Mena led 2-1 after the second inning.

Brooks sent the Lady Sand Lizards back to the dugout in order with a pair of ground outs to senior Bailey Bunch and a line out to junior Kenzi Spurgin. The Ladycats were only able to muster one run in the bottom of the inning, despite the fact that Mena had the bases loaded with one out. Brooks helped her own cause as she singled to left field to push junior Kristen Kesterson across the plate. Mena led 3-1 after three innings of play.

Each team picked up one hit in the fourth inning. Spurgin picked up the only hit for Mena, on a single to left field. The Ladycats led 3-1 after the completion of the fourth.

Dardanelle had two batters reach in the top of the fifth, one via a walk, and the other on a single up the middle. Mena went down in order on a line out and a pair of fly outs. Ladycats held on to a 3-1 lead at the end of the fifth.

The Lady Sand Lizards put their first batter on first with a gift walk by Brooks.Torix caught a fly ball in center for the first out in the top of the sixth inning. After the walk, Brooks’ teammates had her back, as Bunch ended the Dardanelle at-bat, turning a double play on a pop-up and a quick throw to Madi Brotherton at first base.

Keeping the momentum going, Mena turned out the lights on Dardanelle as they scored eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to run-rule the Lady Sand Lizards, 11-1. Torix started off the inning with a triple and, three pitches later, scored on a RBI single by Madi Brotherton. After freshman Alicia Barrett was caught stealing second, Ward singled to right field. Bunch stroked one over the right field wall for a two-run homer to put the Ladycats up 6-1. Spurgin kept things going with a double to center field, followed by a walk to Kesterson. Macy Brotherton was hit by a pitch, and sophomore Riley Schnell entered the game as a courtesy runner for Brotherton. Hansard reached on an error and Spurgin and Kesterson were able to score on the play, to give Mena an 8-1 lead. Brooks singled to left field to load the bases for the Ladycats with one out. Torix knocked a pair home with an RBI double to left field. Junior Jordan Ward ended the contest with an RBI single to right field. The game ended once the 10^th run crossed the plate, giving Mena an 11-1 victory over non-conference Dardanelle.

About Author

Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

See author's posts