HOT SPRINGS - A 10-run first inning jump started the Magnolia Panthers and allowed them to cruise to a 16-1 run rule victory over the Hot Springs Trojans Thursday in Hot Springs.
It was the final regular season game for the Panthers who closed out regular season play with a 21-1 overall record and a perfect 13-0 conference record.
In the big first inning, the Panthers took advantage of eight walks to go along with four hits.
The first three batters in the lineup, Jay French, Kurt Pletcher and Matt Goodheart all walked before Parker Ribble drove home two with a double.
Dayton Dickson singled to drive in two more. It was then back to the base on balls, as Payton Campbell, Garrett Clark and Connor Harrington all walked, with the last one forcing in a run.
After the Panthers scored another run on a double play, French hit a two-run home run, and later in the inning, Goodheart added another two-run homer.
Magnolia would manage a single run the second inning, then put the game away with five runs in the fourth.
The Panthers had 10 hits and received 13 walks from Hot Springs pitching.
French was the only Panther with two hits. Goodheart, Ribble, Dickson, Clark, Harrington, Eli Ward, Kyle Carver and Zane Taylor all had one hit.
Kurt Pletcher drew three of the Panthers' 13 walks. Campbell and Brooks Lynch each walked twice.
French, Goodheart, Ribble, Clark, Harrington and Aaron Hartsfield all walked once.
French started on the mound and went the first three innings, allowing no runs and no hits while striking out seven to earn the win. Harrington pitched the final two innings to pick up the save. He struck out three while allowing two hits and one run.
The Panthers now turn their attention to the district tournament.
Magnolia is the No. 1-seed in the tournament, and will play the No. 8-seed Hope Bobcats at 11 a.m. Monday.
Other games Monday will be second-seed Watson Chapel playing seventh-seed Hot Springs at 1:30 p.m.
Third-seed Lakeside will play sixth-seed Camden Fairview at 4 p.m.
The final game of the day will be at 6:30 p.m. with fourth-seed White Hall meeting fifth-seed De Queen.
All of Monday's winners will advance to Wednesday's semi-finals and will also guarantee themselves a spot in the Class 5A State Tournament the next week in Sylvan Hills.
Lady Panthers, Lady Trojans
HOT SPRINGS - Thanks to a huge first inning, the Magnolia Lady Panthers blew out the Hot Springs Lady Trojans 20-1 Thursday afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader.
They took the nightcap by a score of 15-0.
Magnolia scored 18 runs in the first inning of the opening game.
They included singles by Alex Whaley, Karlee Strickland, and Taylor Yates, followed by an error, double by Jacii Powell, another single and double.
Strickland singled again in the inning as well as Hannah Brigham and Whaley doubled. Powell also singled in the inning.
Whaley earned the win in the circle.
Magnolia collected 14 hits. Whaley, Brigham, Strickland, and Powell each collected multiple hits.
Whaley went 3-for-3 at the plate with four runs batted in. Strickland had three stolen bases.
Rachel Kingg went 1-for-2 at the plate to lead Hot Springs in hits.
In the second contest, the Lady Panthers had seven hits and 10 RBIs.
Reece McDonald and Gracie Price had two hits apiece.
Bailey Ladner scored three runs, while four other Lady Panthers crossed the plate twice.
Caitlyn McCormack got the win and struck out three batters.
Magnolia closed the regular season with a 14-9 overall record and 11-3 in league play.
Next up will be the district softball tournament on Monday, where they will meet Hot Springs Lakeside at 2:30 p.m.