By HAROLD HARMON

Special to the democrat

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Marge Johnson pitched 7.2 innings of no-hit softball with 21 strikeouts and 9-hole hitter Laney Anderson came up big with three for five and a huge run batted in here Friday as Southeastern’s LadyStorm (31-4) took a pair in the Henderson State Festival.

Coach Ron Faubion’s LadyStorm blanked Delta State 4-0 as Johnson fired five innings of no-no with 13 strikeouts and ran her record to 12-0.

Johnson came back in the bottom of the fifth inning of game two with one out, two on and SE leading 2-1. She struck out the first two she faced, whiffed the side in order in the sixth, struck out the first two in the seventh, walked one and struck out the 2-hole hitter to end the game and pick up her second win on the day.

Anderson delivered a 2-out single in the top of the seventh to drive in a huge insurance run.

Coach Faubion said, “This was a good way to come back after five days off. Marge was great in both games. Laney came up big for us with her run batted in and Bailey Mathes hit the ball well.

“It’s good to be back playing. We made only one error on the day. Our pitchers threw strikes (26 strikeouts to five walks) and we got everybody involved. Jami McAdoo pitched well in the second game. She came in early and got us settled down.

“We have three games Saturday and Oklahoma City University will be extremely hard to beat. They have hitters, pitchers and speed. That’s a tough combination when the other team has it.

“Our key is just staying focused on what we’re trying to do and not worry too much about who we’re playing.”

LadyStorm 4

Delta State 0

Johnson walked two and each was stranded at first. McAdoo allowed a leadoff double in the seventh and the runner couldn’t advance.

Southeastern scored the eventual winning run in the second when Mathes opened with a double into the left-field corner, Johnson drew a walk, Jennifer Morales dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt and Jaclyn Mullaney singled up the middle to drive in the first run.

Amanda Tanner dropped a single behind third to score pinch-runner Morgan Miller and make it 2-0.

Morales opened the third with a single, stole second, went to third on Mullaney’s sac bunt and scored on a bunt single by pinch-hitter Brittanie Swift. Benita Sanchez reached on an infield hit that plated Swift to end the scoring in game one.

SE had four runs on 10 hits and no errors. The Lady Statesmen had no runs on one hit and one error.

Anderson sparked the Storm with two for two and a sacrifice bunt. Sanchez was two for four with one RBI. Swift and Mullaney were each one for one with a run batted in. Morales and Tanner were one for two apiece. Kristi Goins and Mathes were one for three each.

Pinch-hitter Emily Hearn was one for one to lead Delta State(11-8).

LadyStorm 3

Ouachita Baptist 1

The LadyStorm scored first in the top of the first when Sanchez went all the way to second on a throwing error by the second baseman. A sac bunt, and sac fly by Erika Bernal plated the lead run.

Tanner started and was relieved by McAdoo with one on, none out and a 2-strike count on the 2-hole hitter in the bottom of the first.

McAdoo skinned the Tigers through the first two innings and the Storm added a run in the third when Sanchez led off with a single and scored on Bernal’s slash through the left side of the infield.

Tanner returned to pitch 2.1 innings. She allowed a run on a walk and back-to-back singles in the fifth and Johnson came on in relief.

She faced nine batters and struck out eight. End of conversation.

Mullaney singled, pinch-runner Cassy Tice stole second and scored on Anderson’s big hit in the top of the seventh.

Mathes was two for three with one RBI. Sanchez, Bernal, Mullaney, Miller and Anderson had a hit each for the winners.

Leadoff hitter Monica Davis was three for three to lead OBU (13-16).