By By STEVE FRANKLIN, Sports Writer
CHOCOWINITY — The Emily Smith pitching era got off to a rough start on Thursday night.
Smith, who replaces departed all-state performer Gabby Cilluffo as Southside’s ace in 2009, made her second career start against Pamlico on Thursday and surrendered nine hits and walked two in a 5-1 loss to the Hurricanes.
Aurora resident Kara Cayton, a freshman for Pamlico, did much of the damage for the Hurricanes.
Cayton slammed a three-run home run to give the Hurricanes a 3-0 lead in the third inning, then followed it up with an RBI single in the fifth.
The Hurricanes padded their lead in the top of the sixth as Daniela Norman drove in Kayla Hale to give Pamlico a 5-0 lead.
The Lady Seahawks tried to mount a rally in the bottom of the sixth as D.D. Stanley delivered a two-out double then came home to score after Mandi Harding singled.
One batter later, Bailey Hobbs singled up the middle to put runners on first and third. But on the very next pitch, Pamlico freshman pitcher Katie Lochman enticed Kellie Hardison to ground out to end the Lady Seahawks’ scoring threat.
Lochman, who earned her first varsity shutout against Northside on Wednesday, improved to 2-0 on the season as she allowed just six hits and an earned run, while striking out three.
The top of the order gave Smith the most trouble as Norman, Darian Roberts and Cayton (Pamlico’s No. 1, 2 and 3 hitters) combined for eight of the ’Canes (2-0) nine hits.
Southside (0-1) was paced by Harding and Hobbs with two hits apiece.
Pamlico 5, Southside 1
Pamlico 003 011 0 — 5
Southside 000 001 0 — 1
WP: Katie Lochman (2-0); LP: Emily Smith (0-1)
Pamlico (5)
Kara Cayton 3-4 (HR, 4 RBIs), Daniela Norman 3-3 (2 Runs, RBI), Darian Roberts 2-4 (Run), Kayla Hale 1-3 (Run).
Southside (1)
D.D. Stanley 1-3 (Double, Run), Mandi Harding 2-3, Bailey Hobbs 2-3, Shakeira Lomax 1-3.