FAYETTEVILLE -- Autumn Hume dominated the Class 3A softball state championship game about as thoroughly as possible.
Hume was one weak single away from pitching a perfect game, striking out 10, and she hit two home runs and drove in Bald Knob's first three runs as the Lady Bulldogs defeated Harding Academy 5-0 at Bogle Field.
"I have to admit, I was pretty nervous before the game," said Hume, who was named the game's MVP. "I just wanted to play my best and not let my teammates down.
"I've had some good games, but never where I hit two home runs in one game before."
Hume improved to 26-1, and her ERA was already below 0.50 before Friday's shutout.
"She is a big-time player and she came through in a big way for us, and as great as she is as a player, she is a wonderful person, too," Bald Knob Coach Brad Roberts said. "She's a junior, so we get to keep her one more year."
Hume put Bald Knob (30-2) ahead 1-0 in the first with a line-drive home run that never got much higher than the outfield wall.
The 1-0 score held up until the fourth inning, when Kinlee Briner singled in front of Hume, who lifted a massive shot down the left-field line for a 3-0 lead.
Harding walked Hume on her third at-bat on five pitches. She scored to make it 4-0 as Briner tripled into the gap in right field. Briner scored the final run on a bunt single by Janna Smith.
Harding (24-7) managed only a single from Amanda Berry in the fourth inning, which kept Hume from posting a perfect game.
Bald Knob ended the season on a 25-game winning streak, but Roberts said the repeat title wasn't as easy as it looked. The Bulldogs outscored their opponents 41-2 in state tournament play.
"Back-to-back is extremely hard to do," Roberts said. "We have played the whole season with targets on our backs and everyone wanting to knock us off. I'm very proud of the girls and the way they handled the pressure all year."
Harding;000 000 0 -- 0 1 0
Bald Knob;100 202 -- x 5 8 0
Berry and Smith; Hume and Camp. W -- Hume (26-1). L -- Berry. HR -- Bald Knob: Hume 2.
Sports on 05/23/2015