HARTSVILLE, S.C. — It was the best case scenario for the Rockingham Ponytails all-star team in its opening game of the Dixie Softball World Series.

The pitching duo of Paige Ransom and Payton Chappell each hurled two hitless innings to help Rockingham to a 10-0 victory over Hartsville, South Carolina Saturday night.

Ransom started the game and allowed two walks in the first inning before settling down to retire the next four batters she faced. Chappell recorded a perfect third inning before walking the bases loaded with two outs in the fourth. Chappell coaxed Kaki Newsome to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the threat.

Rockingham, the North Carolina state champion, scored four times in the first, two in the third and closed out the contest with four more in the fourth.

“You have to conserve pitching in Dixie,” Rockingham coach Matthew Liles said. “It was the best case scenario for us.”

Jadyn Johnson scored three runs in the win, including the first and the final runs. Johnson led off the bottom of the first with a fly ball to right field that sailed over the head of Kyshawn Robinson. Johnson raced around the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

Rockingham took advantage of several miscues by Hartsville. Liles said it was a credit to his hitters that they put the ball in play and forced Hartsville to make plays on defense.

With the victory, Rockingham will face Florida at 8 p.m. Sunday. In other games, Georgia will take on Mississippi in an elimination game at 6 p.m. South Carolina will face Tennessee at 6 p.m. in a winner’s bracket contest.

Reach managing editor Shawn Stinson at 910-817-2671 and follow him on Twitter @scgolfer.