FRANKLIN TIES STATE STRIKEOUT RECORD

Lexi Franklin, with a 3-0 count and the bases loaded, threw two called strikes and another pitch by a Fort Smith Northside hitter Tuesday night for her 23rd strikeout of the game.

That establishes a school record for strikeouts in a game and ties the state record.

Obviously, any strikeout count in excess of 21 means extra innings and the game with the Lady Bears did go nine innings with Northside scratching across the only run of the game in the top of the ninth before loading the bases on an error.

The record was set in a 10 inning game.

Franklin struck out all nine hitters in the Northside starting lineup, seven of them at least twice and a pair of them four times to set the record.

Unfortunately she got no run support as the Northside pitcher was matching Franklin with goose eggs.

The Lady Bearcats (1-1) outhit the Lady Bears and drew five walks but could not put together enough offense to push across a run.

The Lady Bearcats left the bases loaded in the second, left runners on the corners in the sixth, and twice had a runner called out for leaving early when tagging up on a fly ball.

For the second day in a row Peighton Montalvo had a highlight day at the plate with as the only Lady Bearcat with a multiple hit day. Roni Tillery also drew a pair of walks .

The Lady Bearcats return to action on Thursday when they host Pottsville at 4:30.