Lady Cardinals Win Season Opener

SIXTH INNING HOMER NOT ENOUGH FOR SOUTHSIDE

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Farmington sophomore Paige Anderson leaves the ball on the field after catching a line drive to record the third out and stranding a base-runner in the second inning of the Lady Cardinals' 3-1 season-opening win over Fort Smith Southside on Feb. 26.
MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Farmington sophomore Paige Anderson leaves the ball on the field after catching a line drive to record the third out and stranding a base-runner in the second inning of the Lady Cardinals' 3-1 season-opening win over Fort Smith Southside on Feb. 26.

FARMINGTON -- A pitcher's duel lasted until the sixth inning before Farmington chased Southside starter Caitlin Massey (0-1), who allowed six hits and three runs with two strike-outs and one walk.

Strong pitching and solid defense enabled the Lady Cardinals (1-0) to defeat Southside 3-1 on opening day, Monday, Feb. 26. McKenzi Bogan (1-0) earned the win for Farmington. Bogan blanked Southside through four innings. She allowed two hits, recorded a pair of strike-outs and surrendered no walks.

Leading 1-0 in the top of the fifth, Farmington coach Randy Osnes went to his bullpen, first inserting Shyanna Holmes and later Paige Devecsery, who got the last six outs to earn the save for the Lady Cardinals. Southside managed just five hits against the three Lady Cardinal pitchers and Farmington had no errors.

Massey started off strong. She got the first five batters she faced out, inducing a ground-out, pop-up caught by the catcher and fly-out to end the first inning.

Southside made a little noise in the second beginning with a leadoff single by the Mavericks' Piper Morgan. The next batter Caitlyn Bagby hit into a fielder's choice with Morgan thrown out at second. Farmington came close to turning a double play, but Bagby reached first safely.

Bogan threw five straight strikes to Hailey Hogue, who went down after fouling off two pitches. Meliah Hunter, who led Southside with two hits in three at bats, hit a blooper over the infield for a single, but on a 1-2 pitch Bogan induced a line drive that was fielded by third baseman Paige Anderson for the third out.

Farmington pushed a run across in the third off the bat of junior Alyssa Reed, and two more in the fifth to go up 3-0. Anderson went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Farmington in hits. Sophomore Kally Stout was 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.

Southside avoided a shut-out when freshman Madi Conklin homered in the sixth.

Sports on 03/07/2018