PORT BARRE -- The Pine Prairie Lady Panthers scored all of their runs in the top of the first inning and relied on an incredible pitching performance from senior hurler Karli Ortego and some stellar defense to hold on to a 3-0 win over the Port Barre Lady Red Devils here Thursday afternoon.
With the win, the Lady Panthers are now 20-3 on the year and 7-1 in District 5-3A competition. Pine Prairie will host cross-parish rival Mamou in a key league contest tomorrow. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
The Lady Panthers started the game with a bang, as lead off hitter Jacie McFarlain blasted the very first pitch she looked at over the right-center field wall for a solo home run.
Maycie Hardy followed that with a double and came home when Tori Johnson also doubled. After a ground out for the first out of the at-bat, Asia George singled, plating Johnson for the third and final run of the inning.
Port Barre threatened in the bottom of the first when their third batter of the inning singled and reached third base on an error by the Lady Panther right fielder. However, Ortego induced a ground ball to McFarlain at third base for the final out of the at-bat.
Pine Prairie did get runners into scoring position over the next six innings, but could not push any more runs across.
Ortego was her usual shut down self on the mound, allowing zero runs on only two hits while striking out six Lady Red Devils. .
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TRACEY JAGNEAUX