Lady Hornets subdue Lady Cyclones behind Kirchner

BRYANT, Ark. — Senior Christen Kirchner needed just 67 pitches and one big swing to spark the Bryant Lady Hornets to a 3-0 win over the Russellville Lady Cyclones on Tuesday, April 14.

Sarah Hart threw out two base-stealers against Russellville. (Photo by Mark Hart)

Kirchner shut out the Lady Cyclones on just one hit and faced just one over the minimum in going the distance in the pitcher's circle. And she provided all the runs she'd need with a two-run home run to dead center in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Lady Hornets improved to 15-6 overall and 7-1 to top the 7A-Central Conference, heading into a rematch with the only league team to beat them this season at Conway on Thursday.[more]

Christen Kirchner pitched a one-hit shutout against Russellville Tuesday. (Photo by Misty Platt)

Kirchner retired the first 11 batters that came to the plate before Russellville's Janesa Hudson singled to center to break up the no-hitter.

The Lady Cyclones had two other base runners. Lana Brown was hit by a pitch with one out in the fifth but was gunned down trying to steal by Lady Hornets catcher Sarah Hart. In the sixth, Lauren Guarino was hit by a pitch to start the inning but she too was thrown out trying to steal by Hart.

Kirchner then retired the final five in a row to close out the win.

Bryant took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. With two down, Hart walked and Kim Wilson's bouncer to short was misplayed, putting runners at second and third. Shanika Johnson followed with a bunt single that brought Hart home.

In the third, Jenna Bruick singled but was caught stealing. In the fourth, Hart was hit by a pitch with two down but was stranded.

The fifth began with a double by Johnson. She took second on a wild pitch but was caught in a rundown on Paige Turpin's grounder to third and tagged out. Turpin got to second on the play and, an out later, Kirchner blasted her long home run.

Jenna Bruick, right, is tagged out trying to steal second. (Photo by Misty Platt)

Kayla Sory added a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth but, after Hart sacrificed her to second, she was stranded.

The Bryant JV team improved to 11-0 on the season with a 9-3 victory over their Russellville counterparts. Sory and Peyton Jenkins combined on the pitching duties. Jessie Taylor belted a two-run homer to put the Lady Hornets up 3-0 and they never looked back. Kelsie Works, Amber Cope, Jesseca Cudd, Ashley Chaloner, Bruick, Wilson and Jenkins added hits along the way.

JV games remain with Cabot, Conway and North Little Rock.



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