By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
A scary game two followed an easy game one, but the Jacksonville softball team came away with a pair of conference victories over Pulaski Academy on Tuesday in Little Rock. The Lady Titans won by scores of 19-2 and 7-6.
Game two was played without some key starters, including at pitcher and catcher, and the visiting team committed five errors to help the Lady Bruins keep make it a close game.
“We’re just very inexperienced,” said Jacksonville coach Hank Hawk. “We’ve drilled a lot on situational things, but it just takes being out there and experiencing it. We don’t have a real high softball IQ right now, but they are working hard and we’re getting better.”
In game one, Jacksonville sent 13 batters to the plate in the opening inning and scored seven quick runs on two hits and seven walks. Rebekah House hit a triple and Allison Seats singled to drive in two runs.
PA’s two runs were also scored in the first inning. With two outs, the Bruins (1-8, 1-4) drew two walks before a double drove in both base runners.
Jacksonville’s leadoff hitter struck out in the top of the second inning, but the next seven batters reached base. A walk by Grace Smith was followed by an RBI double by Abby Hooper. Tori Hankins singled and Samantha Luna walked to load the bases. Another run scored on a wild pitch, but the next two batters were out to end the inning.
In the third, Jacksonville’s first two batters went down, but Seats cranked a home run to make it 10-2.
The Titans (4-8, 2-4) loaded the bases again with a double by Smith and walks by Emma Gartman and Hooper, but Hankins popped up back to the pitcher to end the threat.
Jacksonville put five more across the plate in the fourth.
Jordan Moody got an RBI base hit to start the scoring after two walks and a hit by Megan Davis loaded the bases. Seats walked to drive in another run and Smith doubled to clear the bases for a 15-2 lead.
Just like in the fourth inning, Luna led off the fifth with a walk, while Davis and House did the same to load the bases. Moody then singled for two RBIs, and Seats doubled for two more to set the final margin.
Moody got the win in the circle. She gave up two hits over five innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out 11 and walking four.
Jacksonville drew 16 walks and compiled 12 base hits. . Seats went 3 for 4 with a home run, a double and six RBIs. Smith had two doubles and Moody two singles.
Seats and Moody did not start in game two. Moody pitched the last two innings, but Hooper got the win in the circle after Jacksonville scored all seven runs in those first two innings.
House went 2 for 3 with a double to lead the Titans offensively.
Jacksonville plays in a tournament in Heber Springs this weekend, and will host Parkview in another conference doubleheader on Tuesday at Dupree Park.
