By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits scored the final six runs of the game to pick up a 10-4 4A-2 Conference win over Riverview on Monday in Searcy.
Both teams scored four runs in the third inning, but Lonoke pitcher Charley Jo Chesney shut the Lady Raiders down the rest of the way while the Jackrabbits scored a single run in the fourth and five more in the top of the seventh to set the final margin.
Despite scoring 10 runs, Lonoke left a lot of opportunities unrealized. The Lady Jackrabbits compiled 18 base hits while holding Riverview to just six.
After two scoreless innings, Lonoke took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third on a base hit by Jasalyn Truelove. Jarrelyn McCall and Amanda Sexton followed that with RBI doubles, and Maddie Pool homered to cap the rally.
Riverview got five of its six base hits in the home half of the third, including two doubles. Chesney also walked one batter and hit another to aid the Riverview rally, but it was the last of her troubles. She retired nine-straight batters from the fourth to the sixth innings, and two more in the bottom of the seventh before giving up a walk and a single with two outs.
Lonoke’s big seventh inning started with a single by Candice James, who was replaced on the base paths by courtesy runner Madison McFadden.
McFadden was thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice by Gracie Cole. Sidney Hallum was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Chesney struck out swinging for the second out, but Truelove singled to score Cole. McCall then singled to load the bases, and Sexton walked to drive in the second run of the inning, making it 7-4. Pool singled to score Truelove and Janae Miller hit a two-RBI double to set the final margin.
Lonoke’s fifth-inning go-ahead run came on three-straight base hits by Miller, James and Cole.
Pool went 4 for 5 with a home run. James, Miller and Truelove each got three base hits while McCall, Sexton and Cole got two each.
Chesney struck out nine and walked one in seven innings of work on the mound. The league win followed a 1-2 performance at the Lonoke Invitational tournament on Friday and Saturday. The Lady Jackrabbits (6-4, 2-1) beat Carlisle 19-0 Friday before falling 15-2 to DeWitt and 5-1 to Rose Bud on Saturday.
