Class 2A Arkansas softball final: Mackenzie Thomas' RBI single, Klaire Womack's dominant pitching lead Riverside to first state title

Womack earned MVP after striking out 18 batters

By Kyle Sutherland I Photos by Jimmy Jones 

CONWAY - One of just two seniors for Riverside, Mackenzie Thomas knew she had to step up when her team needed her most. 

With two outs at the top of the sixth inning, Thomas was at bat with a full count and looking for a riseball, but was fully prepared for a changeup which is what she got. 

She singled to left field that scored Annalee Qualls from third base and that would be all the Lady Rebels had to do offensively.

Thomas' clutch hit along with a dominant outing by Klaire Womack led Riverside to a 1-0 victory over Mansfield on a drizzly, cloudy Friday afternoon at Farris Field at the University of Central Arkansas. 

Qualls had singled with one out, advanced to second on a wild pitch, then a sacrifice bunt by Kaylee Cox advanced Qualls to third.

"We got a perfect sacrifice down and got the runner over to third," Riverside head coach TJ Eakins said. "All we needed was the ball put in play and Mackenzie came in a got a bit hit. That is just what we needed."

Womack kept things under control in the circle all afternoon, but Mansfield (28-4) did plate runners at first and second after Womack intentionally walked Lady Tigers' pitcher Alyson Edwards, who had 15 of Mansfield's 20 home runs on the year. 

"I do not think anybody in the ballpark would have pitched to her in that situation," Eakins said. "There was no question that if we were going to get beat it was not going to be by their best hitter." 

A strikeout on the next at-bat got Riverside (25-4) out of the inning, then the Riverside offense went three up, three down before Womack came back out to finish. Womack completed the job by striking out the final batter swinging on a full count.

Womack earned Most Valuable Players honors after allowing just two hits, walked another two batters, and punched out 18 of 25 faced.

"Klaire pitched outstanding today," Eakins said. "Once we got up 1-0 I felt pretty confident the way that she was dealing it would be enough."

Due to an injury sustained in basketball last season, Womack was not able to pitch until the 2022 postseason but stepped up as the ace for the Lady Rebels this season.

"I knew I had to be at my best," Womack said. "I just did what I had to do. Pitching high level games against really good batters really helped me."

Following a 26-minute rain delay to start the game, Riverside got two runners on via a Cox walk and then the first hit of the game from Thomas. 

Womack and Edwards could hardly be touched over the next three innings as all but one of the next 20 batters was set down in order until Edwards was walked in the bottom of the fourth.

Edwards was solid in her own right, striking out 16 batters while allowing just three hits, but the Lady Tigers were not able to come up with any run support. Before giving up the run to Thomas in the sixth, Edwards had retired the previous 15 batters, including 13 strikeouts.

The loss snapped a 24-game win streak dating back to March 17.

"They just got us out of our game," Mansfield head coach Donnie Eveld said. "We had a great run through the playoffs. Great team and a great group of girls."

The Lady Rebels will likely not be going away anytime soon as the majority of the starters are freshmen and sophomores, but Eakins praised what his team was able to accomplish this year that also included a district and regional championship. 

"The girls played their butts off all year long and I am so proud of them," Eakins. "They came through when they had to with solid defense."