IOWA — Iowa senior Arlee Darbonne pitched another gem Saturday to send the Yellow Jackets back to the LHSAA state softball tournament for the second consecutive season.

Darbonne pitched her second consecutive no-hitter as Iowa beat District 4-3A rival, South Beauregard, 2-0 in the Class 3A quarterfinals.

Top-ranked Iowa, last year’s Class 3A runner-up, will get a rematch with No. 4 Grant in the semifinals next week at North Frasch Park in Sulphur.

Iowa beat Grant 11-5 last year.

“Arlee really did a good job today,” Iowa head coach Kenzie Singletary said. “She was really hitting spots, and she was spinning the ball well.

“The balls that were put in play our defense was backing her up and played clean. I am proud of them. They have worked hard to get here. We were a little bitter after last year’s loss, so they knew what they had to do to get there again. They have earned this trip.”

In three playoff games, Darbonne has not allowed a run while striking out 23 batters and walking one in 15 innings.

Darbonne faced the meat of South Beauregard’s lineup in the seventh inning, including power hitters Morgan Eaves and Emelie Price, but ended the game with three consecutive popups.

“I was very confident the whole game until the last inning,” Darbonne said. “My nerves started getting to me, but I knew we could pitch through and get the win at the end.

“I had to keep the ball low and throw my game and not let the game take control of me. I am so excited. I love my team so much. They mean the world to me, and I couldn’t do it without them behind me.”

South Beauregard got a base runner in the first inning when Morgan Eaves drew a base on balls with two outs, but it would be the only one for the Lady K’s, who lost in the quarterfinals three consecutive seasons.

“Defensively, we held them,” South Beauregard head coach Karlee Campbell said. “Offensively, we just struggled at the plate to get base hits.

“I think we had a good season. We have a great group. We expected them to go far, and we did but unfortunately, it didn’t end how we wanted to.”

Iowa junior Kamryn Broussard broke up a scoreless game with a solo home run to left field in the third inning with two outs. Calee Guillory hit a single in the fourth inning to bring home Bentley Richard for a 2-0 lead.

“I told myself I just got to do what I have to do to help my team,” Broussard said. “The first at-bat wasn’t so good, but I just had to take it off my mind and get it the next time.

“I went up there focused, and I was ready to hit.”

South Beauregard pitcher Alyssa Cloessner held Iowa to five hits.