FRANKLIN MAKES SMOOTH TRANSITION TO CIRCLE

Lexi Franklin did not need much time to get adjusted from point guard to circle.

Franklin struck out 16 Lady Airedales and had two hits in a 9-2 win season opening win in Alma. Included in the 16 set down on strikes was the 700th strikeout victim of her career.

After two scoreless innings Cam Parish lifted a fly ball that scored Presley Walker for the first run of the season and the Lady Bearcats proceeded to load the bases with two down.

That brought Peighton Montalvo to the plate. She reached on an error that allowed two runs to score and it was 3-0.

Farrah Stringer, Haylee Taylor, and Walker all singled to open the fourth and an double by Ellie Smith, who was 4-for-5, plated two for a 5-0 lead.

Parish drove another ball into the outfield for a sacrifice that scored a run and make it 6-0, but Smith was thrown out trying to reach third.

Sill, with the bases empty Roni Tillery singled, Franklin singled and Kylie Lunsford reached on an error to bring up Montalvo with the bases loaded again. This time Montalvo tripled to center to score courtesy runner Taylor Villarreal, Franklin, and Lunsford and it was 9-0.

Franklin had allowed no hits to that point but Alma strung together three singles and a walk in the bottom of the inning and scored twice.

Franklin stuck out the last two she faced in the frame and did not allow a hit the rest of the day and one of the walks she issued was thrown out trying to steal by Tillery.

The Lady Bearcats open the home slate today at 4:30 with a visit from Fort Smith Northside.