By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Lonoke wrapped up its second straight 4A-2 Conference championship with a doubleheader sweep over visiting Stuttgart on Tuesday.
The Jackrabbits had plenty of hits in the opener, but had to outlast Stuttgart in 10 innings, finally landing an RBI single from Luke Mitchell in the bottom of the tenth to score Jordan Harris for a 2-1 win.
Lonoke rallied in Game 2 with an eight-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 14-7 win in a match highlighted by 24 total hits by the two teams.
The game was tied 1-1 when the Ricebirds hit a five-run flurry in the top of the fourth inning. Lonoke answered one of those scores in the bottom side, started the bottom of the fifth inning still facing a 6-2 deficit when the ’Rabbit bats started to come to life.
Drew Southerland went four innings on the mound for the Jackrabbits in the opener, but it was reliever B.J. Manning who earned the win in six innings. The pitchers combined to hold the Ricebirds to four hits, with Southerland fanning five batters and Manning seven.
A reliever also took the win in the nightcap. Jacob Taylor went 3 1/3 innings, and gave up only two runs.
The batting stats were sparse in Game 1, but Game 2 had plenty of big hitters for the Jackrabbits. Glenn Evans was 3 of 4 with two runs and two RBI. Mitchell was 3 of 5 with two runs and two RBI, and Ricky Manning was 3 of 4 with two runs and two RBI. Southerland, Jason Dillie and Justin Neyland all finished with two hits for Lonoke.
The Jackrabbits finished the regular season with a record of 12-5 overall and 9-3 in conference play. They have a first-round bye in this weekend’s 4A-2 District tournament at Newport. Lonoke will await the winner of today’s game between Mountain View and Heber Springs at noon.
