Hagan Hord’s four-RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh gave Stuttgart a walk-off win over Monticello. (Photo courtesy of Hollee Davis)
Stuttgart softball hosted Monticello on Friday night in an effort to break a two-game losing streak for the week.
With the game tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh, third baseman Hagan Hord laced a triple into centerfield which drove in three Ladybirds. Hord came around to score on the play following an errant throw. Four runs crossed the plate on the play, but only the first run counted, as it gave Stuttgart a 5-4 win and improved the Ladybirds’ record to 22-4.
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Already guaranteed a share of the 4A-5 conference crown, Stuttgart hosted Little Rock Mills on Thursday for a conference doubleheader at Gina Bailey Field at the Reinsch Sports Complex. With the contests, Stuttgart combined for 26 hits to sweep Mills off the prairie and complete their 2021 league schedule unblemished.
Game One: Stuttgart 15 Little Rock Mills 0
Ally Anderson at first base.
After not pitching in the Ladybirds’ previous four outings, Emma Banks got the start in the circle and picked up her 16th win of the season by going 2.0 innings, striking out all six batters she faced. Ashlyn Eason came on in relief and struck out the three batters she saw in her 1.0 inning. The duo combined to deliver a perfect game in three innings as none of Mills’ batters reached the basepaths.
Cailyn Baser pitching.
With a doubleheader sweep of Joe T. Robinson on Tuesday night, the Stuttgart Lady Ricebirds are assured of at least a share of the 4A-5 conference title. A sweep of Little Rock Mills tonight gives the Ladybirds their fourth straight outright league championship.
Game One: Stuttgart 16 Joe T. Robinson 0
Ashlyn Eason pitching.
The Ladybirds needed four innings to dispatch Joe T. Robinson in game one on the shoulders of 11 hits and another solid outing from freshman Ashlyn Eason in the circle.
Stuttgart’s lineup picked up 12 RBIs for their 16 runs and struck out only one time in the contest. Lauren Erstine went three out of three in game one and drove in a game-high four runs. Erin Ludwig’s two-out-of-three afternoon led to a two-RBI performance.
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Stuttgart softball moved to 17-2 on the season with a doubleheader sweep of Forrest City Monday afternoon. The Ladybirds easily handled the Mustangs with a pair of 15-0 wins.
Monday was also senior night in Stuttgart as the Ladybirds honored their two seniors, Lauren Erstine and Abby Stratton.
Game One: Stuttgart 15 Forrest City 0
It took only one inning for Stuttgart to manufacture 15 runs in game one. Every Ladybird in the lineup batted twice in the first, while Erin Ludwig, Lauren Erstine, and Hagan Hord came to the plate three times.
Stuttgart scored their 15 runs with only eight hits while Forrest City committed three errors in the field and the Mustangs’ pitching allowed 11 walks.
Hagan Hord is ready at third base as Emma Banks pitches in the background. (Photo courtesy of Heather Spoon)
Emma Banks tossed six innings of scoreless softball to silence the Bauxite Lady Miners’ bats en route to her 12th win of 2021. Her offense did their part as well, scoring six runs on 14 hits to give Stuttgart a 6-1 home victory.
Monday night’s game was the second time Stuttgart and Bauxite played this season. The first matchup was a 6-4 win for Stuttgart on March 20. During game two of the series, the Ladybirds slowly eased away from the Lady Miners with single runs in the second and third innings before scoring two runs in both the fifth and sixth frames for the 6-1 win.