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Benton senior Addison Davis competes in a recent game. The Lady Panthers defeated Greenbrier 12-0 on the road Monday.Â
BRAEDEN BOTTS/Special to The Saline Courier
GREENBRIER – After their state-record 67-game win streak came to an end this past Saturday against rival Bryant, the two-time 5A defending state champion Benton Lady Panthers got back on the winning track Monday on the road in nonconference play. Benton blanked the Greenbrier Lady Panthers 12-0 in Greenbrier.Â
Benton (4-1) gave up just one hit in the shutout with senior Alyssa Houston pitching three perfect innings for the win, striking out all nine batters she faced. Freshman Caroline Hicks pitched the final two scoreless frames in the five-inning game, giving up one hit and no walks while striking out three.Â
Greenbrier held the potent Lady Panther offense in check the first two innings, but Benton broke through with 11 runs in the top of the third. Senior Emily Reed knocked in fellow senior Addison Davis, reaching on a leadoff single, for the 1-0 lead, but two straight strikeouts threatened Benton’s chance for a big inning. A walk and an error kept things going, though, and with the bases loaded, senior Dakota Hobson hit a grand slam to center to make it a 7-0 game.Â
Reed, senior Mallory Crosby and freshman Cameron Culclager all had RBI singles for the 11-0 lead after three. Houston would wrap the scoring in the fifth with a leadoff homer.Â
Reed finished 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs, with Houston 2 for 3 with a homer and RBI. Hobson’s granny capped her 1-for-3 day, with Crosby adding a hit and two RBIs. Davis scored twice going 1 for 2 with a stolen base and Culclager was 1 for 2 with a run.Â
Benton hosted Hot Springs on Tuesday and play the Lady Trojans (2-4, 0-4) in Hot Springs on Thursday in 5A South Conference action, where the Lady Panthers are 2-0.Â
