DOVER -- Booneville was able to get a first-inning unearned run against Gravette starting pitcher Cally Kildow. But Kildow was lights-out after that at JP Lovelady Park on Friday. Kildow pitched seven innings while allowing just four hits and striking out 15 to lead the way in a 4-1 victory in a first-round matchup at the 4A North Regional Softball Tournament.
"We had that little error," Gravette coach Taos Jones said. "But it still all worked out for us despite giving up that early run."
Booneville's Mariah Reagan, who finished 2-for-3, reached as the opening batter of the game and later scored to take a 1-0 lead on an outfield error.
But that was the only offense Booneville (15-8) could put together against the freshman Kildow.
"We haven't seen a pitcher like her in our conference," Booneville coach Dustin Crowley said. "We got some hits on her at the end. But it's hard to put multiple hits together against her. She is very talented."
Gravette (22-7) was able to bounce back in the second inning to tie the game at 1-1 with Sumer Kaba leading off with a single and later coming around to score.
The Lady Lions were able to break open the game with a three-run third inning that was fueled by four singles and a pair of walks to get to Lady Bearcats starter Whitney Tatum.
Hannah Cole started the inning with a single then Lexi Gerner and Bailey Elmore drew walks to load the bases. Emily Ellis, Kildow and Gabbi Curtis followed with RBI singles to build a 4-1 lead.
"We like to get those extra runs because you never know what will happen in a game," Jones said. "That was a big inning for us to take and build a lead."
That was all the run support Kildow needed as she held Booneville to just two hits while adding five strikeouts after the big offensive inning.
"She is the kind of pitcher that searches for the strike zone as the game goes on," Jones said. "As she finds where it is and gets settled in, she is unstoppable at that point."
Kildow finished with three innings in which she struck out the side, adding to her season total of 275 strikeouts entering the game.
Sports on 05/10/2017