FRANKLIN THROWS NO HITTER IN STATE OPENER

Lexi Franklin spun a no hitter in the opening round of the Class 3A state tournament at Equity Bank Sports Complex in Harrison, leading the Lady Bearcats to a 10-0 win over Rivercrest.

Franklin allowed only one baserunner, a two-out walk in the fourth inning.

By then, the Lady Bearcats (26-1), the top seed from Region 1, had staked Franklin to a 4-0 lead with a big second inning.

Joleigh Tate started the fourth with a triple in the gap and scored when Hayley Lunsford’s fly ball also resulted in three bases.

Before the frame ended Caroline Smithson grounded out to score Lunsford and, after a walk put Karmen Kent aboard and an error let Roni Tillery reach, Layla Byrum singled home Kent and Swint followed with a hit to score Byrum to make it 4-0.

It stayed that way until the fifth.

Franklin smashed a ball to left for a triple to start that inning. Brook Turner sent her home and with a single then reached second when the ball got away in left.

A single by Tate had runners on the corners and when courtesy runner Ellie Smith swiped second, Turner stole home on a delayed steal and it was 6-0.

Smithson made it a three RBI day with a double to left that made it 8-0 and a ground out by Byrum made it 9-0 before Swint hit safely for the second time and drove in a run to end the game early.

The Lady Bearcats move on to the quarterfinals to face Atkins, a 7-5 winner over Bismarck, at 12:30 on Friday. The winner will play a semifinal game at noon on Saturday.