El Dorado bounced back from a tough loss in resounding fashion by banging out 13 hits en route to a 17-1 win over Hot Springs in 5A South play on Tuesday.
The win sets up a showdown between the Wildcats (11-9, 9-5) and Hot Springs Lakeside (15-8, 8-6) on Thursday with the winner taking control of the No. 4 seed for the state tournament. The Rams won the first meeting 10-0 on March 26.
The Wildcats scored five runs in the second, seven in the third and four in the fourth after taking a 1-0 lead against the Trojans (4-14, 1-12).
Holden Lowry went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and scored four runs for the Wildcats. He also stole three bases in the contest.
Jonah Davis went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and scored one run for EHS.
Xorian Robinson had two doubles, drove in two runs and scored two runs, while Hamilton Laird went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.
Jake Webster-Moore and Sam York each had a single and an RBI, while Mitchell Polk had a double, walked twice and drove in two runs in the victory.
Daniel Roblee had a single and scored a run to round out the Wildcats’ attack.
Polk and Jaxon Davis combined on a one-hitter for EHS.
Polk walked four and struck out nine while allowing the Trojans’ lone hit and run over four innings to pick up the win.
Davis hit a batter while striking out the side in the fifth to end the game via the sportsmanship rule.