JONESBORO -- It took two innings for the host team to turn an anticipated rematch into an unexpected rout Friday afternoon.
Jonesboro scored nine runs in the second and kept Texarkana's hitters in check to crush the Razorbacks 13-2 in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state baseball tournament at Woodland Field.
The victory was the 13th in a row for Jonesboro (27-5) against teams from its own classification, but Coach Mark Dobson wasn't expecting the Hurricane's most recent conquest to be one-sided.
The teams played March 11 at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock where Jonesboro rolled 17-8 during the Southwest Sporting Goods Classic. That defeat started a string of seven losses in nine games for Texarkana (15-14), which sported a 3-10 mark as late as April 1.
But the Razorbacks regrouped and reeled off 12 victories in their next 15 games, including a 2-1 decision over Greenbrier in the tournament opener.
Texarkana's momentum was gone after Jonesboro's second-inning surge.
"We did get out on them early the first time we played them," Dobson said. "We really had one big inning in that game. But I did not expect that [Friday], and I don't think our players did, either. They were expecting to have a very tight, close one because we watched Texarkana play [Thursday], and they played great."
The Razorbacks' pitchers struggled with their command Friday. Senior Braylon Bishop, a standout outfielder and University of Arkansas commitment, started on the mound but was unable to get out of the first inning after hitting two batters and walking three others. Two of Bishop's walks came with the bases loaded, leading to a pair of runs. The Hurricane tacked on another run on a sacrifice fly from another Arkansas commitment, junior Josh Hyneman.
In the second inning, the Hurricane sent 14 batters to the plate, including a monstrous two-run home run from Hyneman. Jonesboro led 12-0 at the end of the inning.
The Razorbacks got two runs back in the top of the third on a two-run blast from sophomore Ty Waid. Jonesboro's Jake Henry Williams had an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to finish the scoring.
The Hurricane, who are in the semifinals for the fifth time in the past six years, will have another familiar foe in front of them today when they play fellow 5A-East Conference member Greene County Tech.
"I have to tell my guys to pay attention because you don't have to be the best team all year," Dobson said. "You just have the be the best team at the right time. [Greene County Tech] is rolling, and they feel like they've got nothing to lose."
GREENE COUNTY TECH 12, RUSSELLVILLE 5
One big inning afforded Greene County Tech (16-11) the boost it needed.
The Eagles scored six runs in the seventh after Russellville had rallied within 6-5 with a three-run fifth. Nate Crider finished with 4 hits for Greene County Tech and picked up the victory on the mound after giving up 7 hits and striking out 5 in 5 innings.
Hutson Guinn, who provided a go-ahead three-run home run in the final inning during the Eagles' victory over Little Rock Christian on Thursday, also collected four hits, and Camden Farmer ended with three. Farmer, Zayne Stricker and Drew Laubach all had two RBI.
Justus Newman and Braden Burnett contributed two hits each for Russellville (20-11).
VAN BUREN 6, MARION 4
Devin Gattis allowed one run over the final four innings to pave the way for a Van Buren (25-7) comeback.
Tanner Callahan and Sam Seeger each had two hits for the Pointers, who trailed 3-0 in the top of the third. Van Buren scored twice on fielder's choice plays in the bottom of the frame to climb within a run. A three-run fifth handed the Pointers the advantage for good.
Daedrick Cail had two hits, one of which was a solo home run, for Marion (24-8), which had single runs in each of the first three innings.
GREENWOOD 5, BATESVILLE 4
A bases-loaded walk in the top of the seventh broke a 2-2 tie and opened the door for Greenwood (20-10).
The Bulldogs got RBI singles from Mathew Munday (first inning) and Caden Brown (third inning) to grab a 2-0 lead. Batesville pushed across two runs in the fifth on run-scoring hits from Jack Lanier and Tyas Rush to tie the game at 2-2.
Greenwood loaded the bases in the seventh when Luke Brewer scored on a Hunter Houston walk. The next batter, Andrew Elliot, was hit by a pitch before Dylan Strozier pelted an RBI single to center field to complete the Bulldogs' three-run rally.
Batesville (20-9) scored two runs in the bottom of the inning, but Greenwood reliever Chance Eoff struck out Taylor Daughterty on a 3-2 pitch to end the game.