Loyd Star came back strong after losing a 6-5, 10-inning marathon Saturday to the Lumberton Panthers. The Hornets whipped the Panthers 12-0 in the nightcap on Smith Field to clinch the Class 2A best-of-three baseball series..

On Friday night at Lumberton, the Hornets shut out the Panthers 8-0 behind the 2-hit pitching of sophomore southpaw Caleb Yarborough.

Loyd Star raised its record to 19-6. The Hornets travel to Ackerman Thursday for another best-of-three series. Ackerman visits Loyd Star Friday.

“I like the way we fought in the first game today,” said Loyd Star coach Jared Britt. “Our pitching did a good job. Caleb Yarborough pitched well Friday night. Then Cori Crowe and Branden Canny did a good job on the mound today.

“I was proud to see us come out and hit the ball well in the second game today.”

Loyd Star 12, Lumberton 0

The Hornets only needed 4 innings to avenge the earlier loss.

Branden Canny pitched the victory. He struck out 6 batters and walked none. Canny (4-3) allowed 2 hits.

Logan Crider (0K, 0BB) was the losing pitcher. He gave up 5 hits and 6 runs in 1.1 innings.

Directing Loyd Star’s attack was Seth Farmer with a double and 2 singles. Logan Smith doubled and singled. Caleb Yarborough and Canny singled twice. Producing singles were Braden Smith, Brett Calcote Cori Crowe and Brendyn Brister.

Lumberton got a single from Tyler Martin and Crider.

Lumberton 6, Loyd Star 5

The Panthers prevailed in 10 innings. The Hornets tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh as Cori Crowe hit an RBI single to score Branden Canny who had singled.

Crowe (11K, 2BB) absorbed the loss. He gave up 7 hits in 10 innings.

Logan Crider (2K 1BB) pitched the 8th, 9th and 10th innings to collect the win. Junior Johnson (3K, 3BB) started for the Panthers went 7 innings.

The Hornets finished with 10 hits. Crowe doubled and singled. Logan Smith and Canny singled twice. Brett Calcote hit an RBI double in the fifth. Braden Smith, Brendyn Brister and Yarborough singled.

Tarrius Clark and Tyler Martin each had 2 singles for Lumberton. Junior Johnson, Kale Lancaster singled. Matthan Jenkins singled home the wining run in the 10th.