By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Lonoke baseball team bounced back from its first conference loss to hammer eStem Charter School 16-0 Thursday at the Lonoke Ballpark. Earlier in the week, the Lady Jackrabbit softball team made it four league wins in a row with a 4-0 defeat of Central Arkansas Christian.
The baseball game was scheduled as an eStem home game, but the Mets were unable to get a field ready after Thursday’s rain.
Playing as the visiting team, the Jackrabbits got three hits, three runs and three RBIs from shortstop Casey Martin in the blowout victory over the Mets, but he was one of six Jackrabbits that got multiple base hits.
Kameron Cole went 3 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs. Savonte Rountree and Kade Stuart went 2 for 3 while Tallon Swint and Brayden Hardy went 2 for 4.
After a four-run first inning, Lonoke went scoreless in the second and third innings before posting three runs in the fourth. The Jackrabbits blew the game open and invoked the mercy rule with nine runs in the top of the fifth.
Keith Lingo threw a no-hitter over four innings, including seven strikeouts and two walks. The win secures the Jackrabbits (11-7, 6-1) of at least a two-seed in the 4A-2 District Tournament, which also assures them a spot in the East Regional, which Lonoke will host May 5-7.
Lady Rabbit sophomore pitcher Maddie Pool struck out 13 Mustangs in Monday’s win at Lonoke. She scattered four hits and two walks over seven innings, and CAC scarcely threatened throughout the game.
The Lady Jackrabbits got two runs in the bottom of the first inning, and added another pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Madison McFadden, Jarrelyn McCall and Madison Crow each went 2 for 3 at the plate while Mary Sumner went 2 for 2 in the nine hole.
Lonoke (11-9, 4-3) closes league play with four straight wins after dropping three close games to start the season. They hosted Harmony Grove on Friday, and will play at Baptist Prep on Monday before hosting the East Regional the following week.
