SMACKOVER – Karis Robinson hurled a three-hitter and Karli Goocher homered Monday to lead Smackover past Bismarck 11-1 in 3A-7 action. The Lady Bucks improved to 20-2, 10-1 while the Lady Lions fell to 6-12, 3-8.
Smackover, which had 13 hits in the game, scored four runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh to pull away late.
Robinson went the distance in the circle, allowing three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. She was working on a no-hitter into the seventh.
“Karis pitched a good game and we had some pretty good defensive plays,” said Smackover coach Dennis Steele.
Sabrina Estridge made a backhand stab down the third base line and threw out the runner in the fourth. Goocher cut down a runner trying to steal in the fifth and the Lady Bucks turned a 4-6-3 double play – Megan Mullin to Vanessa Lofton to Abbi Crawford.
Smackover opened the scoring with two in the first inning. Lydia Pullin walked and Goocher singled before Malorie Pullin and Crawford each stroked RBI singles. In the third, Crawford singled and scored on a double by Robinson.
The Lady Bucks tacked on four in the sixth. Mullin walked and Lofton singled. Mackenzie Preston plated courtesy runner Allison Beavers with a ground out before Lydia Pullin banged a double off the fence to drive in a run. Goocher followed with a two-run home run.
In the seventh, Robinson singled before Mullin and Lofton walked to load the bases. Preston came through with a two-run double. Lydia Pullin followed suit with a two-run single.
Goocher and Crawford each went 3-for-5 at the plate with Lydia Pullin and Robinson contributing two hits apiece.
The Lady Bucks host Junction City on Tuesday.