Iota ladies hammered by Pine Prairie

PINE PRAIRIE - The road to the District 5-3A softball title runs through perennial power Pine Prairie and the Iota Lady Bulldogs found that out first hand Tuesday afternoon.

In a matchup of league unbeatens, it all Pine Prairie in this one.

The Lady Panthers (16-1, 6-0) pounded out 19 hits, including six doubles and two home runs, en route to a 14-4 victory over the Lady Dogs in a game that was halted after the sixth inning due to the mercy-rule.

Iota (10-4, 4-1) had just four hits off Lady Panther hurler Karli Ortego, who gave up four walks and struck out 10.

In the first three innings, Ortego struck out seven and allowed just two base runners, both on intentional walks.

Maci Wright logged the first hit off Ortego, a solo home run in the fourth inning.

The Lady Dogs trailed 9-1 after five innings before the finally got something going in the top of the sixth.

Makenzie Droddy, who was intentionally walked for the third time, scored the first run of the frame on a wild pitch before Greta Fontenot logged an RBI single. Another run crossed the plate courtesy of an error and just like that, Iota had trimmed the lead to 5 at 9-4.

The momentum swung back in favor of the Lady Panthers in the bottom of the frame, however.

Pine Prairie recorded five straight two-out hits, including a solo home run by Jacie McFarlain, her second of the night, to end the game.

McFarlain was 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI. Maycie Hardy also had a big day at the plate for the Panthers by going 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI.

Wright’s home run was one of only a few highlights for Iota. Fontenot, who suffered the loss in the circle, had a triple and an RBI. Ryley Crochet and Peyton Dubose rounded out the Lady Dogs’ offense with a single each.