Golden Tigers top Sheffield 2-1

By Staff
Slade Gilmer
For the FCT
The Russellville baseball team used a strong outing from starter Seth Rhudy to defeat Sheffield 2-1 in the Russellville bracket of the Times Daily Classic Thursday.
Rhudy struck out 11 and only allowed one hit – a leadoff single – and one unearned run in the complete-game win.
"Seth pitched well," said Russellville baseball coach David Ward. "He's been rested."
The Golden Tigers struck first, scoring a run in the bottom of the second. Jonas Boyles reached on a two-base error and was replaced with courtesy runner Matthew Duncan.
Hayden Crain's groundout to second moved Duncan to third, and Jesse Green drove Duncan in with a groundout to third.
Sheffield responded in the third, scoring without the benefit of a hit. An error, a failed sacrifice, and a passed ball allowed Bulldog Reid Napier to reach second. Rhudy attempted to pick Napier off second, but the throw went into centerfield, allowing Napier to score the tying run.
Russellville scored the eventual game-winning run in the third inning.
Consecutive singles by Rhudy, Ryan Romans, and Jake Ward loaded the bases before Nathan Vincent drove home courtesy runner Ryan Bolling to give the Golden Tigers a 2-1 lead.
However, the Golden Tigers missed an opportunity to add to the lead, as Bulldog starter Thomas Lindsey struck out Mark Davis and Crain to end the threat.
Neither team threatened to score again until the top of the seventh.
Two Golden Tiger errors and a catcher's interference call loaded the bases for Sheffield. Cameron Gautney grounded into a force out at home to put Russellville one out closer to victory.
On a 2-2 pitch, Rhudy hit Napier with a pitch. However, the umpires ruled that Napier had leaned into the pitch and called it a ball to make the count 3-2.
According to coach Ward, the pitch should have been called a strike, which would have ended the game. However, on the next pitch Rhudy struck Napier out to preserve the win.
Lindsey pitched well for Sheffield, going the distance in the loss, giving up only five hits and two runs – with only one of those being earned – while striking out three and walking none.
Vincent led the way for Russellville with a double and an RBI, while Ward, Romans, Rhudy, and Casey Herring each added singles. Green had an RBI.
With the win, Russellville improved to 5-3 on the season.