By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Lonoke softball team picked up a big 4A-2-Conference win on Thursday, beating Stuttgart 8-7 at Lonoke Ballpark with some late heroics before going 2-2 at the Ozark Classic tournament at Harrison over the weekend.
Thursday’s win was one of the most exciting of the season. Regulation ended with the score tied at 7-7 and Stuttgart started the top of the eighth with a runner on second. Sophomore Maddie Poolpitcher struck out the first batter, then got a pop up to the infield. Pool came back from a 3-0 count to fan Chloe Cox and give the home team a chance for the win.
Lonoke’s Molly Harrison went to second to start the inning, and things went well at the beginning. Harrison moved to third on a sacrifice grounder by Madison McFadden, but Valerie Staton popped up into foul territory for the second out.
With Pool at the plate and a 1-0 count, Harrison stole home to end the game.
McFadden and Staton each went 2 for 5 with a double and two RBIs. Mary Sumner went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Harrison went 2 for 5 with three runs scored.
Pool threw all eight innings, giving up 12 hits and three earned runs while fanning 11 and walking three.
At Harrison, Lonoke split a pair of drastically different games with Harrison, losing 15-0 on Friday and then beating the Lady Goblins 15-0 on Saturday. Later that same day, the Lady Jackrabbits dropped a 4-3 decision to league foe Southside-Batesville, and beat Calico Rock 10-5.
McFadden hit a home run in the win over Harrison, while Molly Harrison went 3 for 3 with three more RBIs in the leadoff spot. Pool threw a one-hitter over four innings for the win.
Trinity Foley went 3 for 3 to lead Lonoke (8-8-1) in the win over Calico Rock. Pool and Madison Crow both went 2 for 4, both of Crow’s hits going for extra bases.
The Lady Jackrabbits will get back to league play on Thursday with a road trip to take on the Newport Lady Greyhounds.
