Lonoke's Martin hits for cycle as Jackrabbits win third-place game

Lonoke's Casey Martin, batting against Gosnell, hit for the cycle in the Jackrabbits' win over Jonesboro Westside in the third-place game of the regional tournament Saturday. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits rallied from a 7-3 deficit to beat Jonesboro Westside 11-9 in the third-place game of the Class 4A East Region Tournament on Saturday at the Lonoke Ball Park.

With the win, Lonoke will play Hamburg, the third seed from the South region in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament Thursday at 10 a.m. 

If Lonoke beats Hamburg on Thursday, it will play Shiloh Christian in the second round Friday at 10 a.m.

In the win over Westside, Lonoke's Casey Martin, who has verbally committed to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks, hit for the cycle. His three-run homer in the top of the sixth tied the game at 7-7. Also scoring on the play were Caleb Horton and Haven Hunter, who both singled to start the rally. 

Martin had a triple in the first inning, a double in the third and a single in the fourth. He was 4 for 5 at the plate with three runs scored and four RBIs. 

Lonoke broke the 7-7 tie with four runs in the top of the seventh. Scoring were Gabe Rooney, Keith Lingo, Brayden Hardy and Kameron Cole. 

Hunter went 3 for 4 at the plate with three runs scored. Savonte Rountree and Lingo both had two hits. Also getting hits were Horton and Kade Stuart. 

Lonoke lost to Gosnell 3-0 in the semifinals of the regional Friday. 

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when the Pirates plated three runs — two unearned — off starter Rountree, who gave up only five hits in 5 1/3 innings. 

Lonoke had only two hits in the game, both by Rountree. 

Lonoke first baseman Keith Lingo tags out a Gosnell runner. Backing up the play is Savonte Rountree.