FRANKLIN THROWS NO HITTER, SMITH DRIVES IN 4

The Booneville Lady Bearcats managed just four games before spring break. They expect to play as many as seven this week.

Head coach Ronnie Denton and the Lady Bearcats got it off to a good start with a 10-0 thrashing of Charleston at the Billy Kiersey Baseball/Softball Complex.

They did so with Lexi Franklin throwing a no hitter and striking out nine in the five inning game and freshman Ellie Smith (shown) driving in four.

Franklin faced her only threat in the second inning when Charleston loaded the bases with a pair of walks and an error. The sophomore then got a strikeout, an infield foul pop that Caroline Smithson handled, and another strikeout to strand all three.

The Lady Bearcats then scored five times in the bottom of the inning.

The inning started with a couple of Charleston errors. A bunt single by Hayley Lunsford loaded the bases and a ground ball by Smithson was misplayed to score the first run and the bases were still loaded for Smith.

She cleared them with a double and after Roni Tillery was hit by a pitch Smith came home on a wild pitch to make it 5-0.

Brooke Turner and Joleigh Tate started the home third with base hits and ground balls by Lunsford and Smith accounted for runs. Tillery reached safely to score Smithson, who had been hit by a pitch, and it was 8-0.

Franklin issued her third pass with two down in the Charleston fourth but a strikeout ended the inning.

Leigh Swint started the bottom of the inning with singles and Turner drove in a run with the third straight hit of the inning. The 10th run came after
Tate grounded into a fielder’s choice that erased Bella Crabtree at the plate, but when the ball got away from the Lady Tiger hurler Turner came home.

The Lady Bearcats (4-1) will host 3A-4 South opponent Danville at 4:30 today.