TILLERY, LADY BEARCATS OPEN 3A-4 PLAY WITH WIN

Roni Tillery drew the start in the circle and had a 9-0 lead before she took the field for the Lady Bearcat softball team Tuesday in Cedarville.

Tillery (1-0) also drew a walk and scored the first run of the game that got the Lady Bearcats off to a 15-2 win in four innings. She would also walk on her second plate appearance of the inning.

The Lady Bearcats (2-0, 1-0 Conference 3A-4) were a home run away from reaching a team cycle in the big first inning, in addition to walks, a hit by pitch, and a player reaching or an error.

Swint, who was plunked with a pitch, had a double and Layla Byrum had a bases-loaded triple in her second at bat of the frame giving her four RBI in the inning. Byrum was 3-for-4 and drove in six on the day.

When she finally entered the circle Tillery made quick work of the Lady Pirates, allowing two hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.

Tillery would be 2-for-2 at the plate including a two-run single in a three run third – Byrum doubled home the other run – and it was 12-0 in the middle of the second.

Cedarville got to Tillery for single runs in the second and third but the Lady Bearcats would score three times in the fourth to make it 15-2.

Byrum grounded out to score one run in the fourth and Lexi Franklin, who played second base, tripled home two, with Tillery and Byrum scoring for the third time each.

Every starter in the lineup scored at least once with Shelbie Myers, who was 2-for-3, scoring twice. Franklin with three and Myers with two also had multiple RBI days.

The Lady Bearcats are scheduled to face Mena at home on Thursday.