The Houston Lady Tigers put their season-opening loss to rest with a dominating victory.
Leadoff hitter Bethany Korte had three hits and pitcher Hannah Pounds gave up just three hits in a 19-1 road romp Friday of Conway.
The Lady Tigers led 1-0 before scoring 10 times in the third inning and eight more in the fourth to invoke the mercy rule.
Houston coach Boulder McKinney said he cranked up the speed on the team’s pitching machine after they managed just one hit against Hartville. The tactic appeared to work.
“It took us a couple innings, but we got our timing down and hit the ball really well,” McKinney said. “We played well and had a lot of things go our way.”
Korte was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and a pair of steals. She and No. 2 hitter Jessica Herndon each doubled and tripled.
Shelbi Moore scored three times, and freshman Carmen Floyd doubled and was one of eight players to score at least twice.
Pounds walked one and struck out one in four innings while giving up one unearned run.
“We needed that first win,” McKinney said. “We were a little intimidated that first game. We were a little more relaxed and focused against Conway.”
