RHS goes 2-1 against Law. Co.
Chris Yow/Contributed
Russellville’s Jackson Smith (2) tries to slide in and beat a tag at third base against the Lawrence County Red Devils Thursday evening in Moulton.
MOULTON — The Russellville Golden Tigers extended their number of wins to 13 on the season after going 2-1 in a series against the Lawrence County Red Devils.
The Golden Tigers won game one 9-4 Wednesday at home and split with Lawrence County 1-1 in a doubleheader Thursday in Moulton, dropping game two 4-3 and winning the nightcap 9-6.
Things got off to a good start for the Golden Tigers in game one when Jordan Gist tripled to left field in the bottom of the first, bringing in Logan Ezzell, Kaleb Daniel and Hayden Evans.
Blake Hyde stepped up to the plate next and brought Gist in with a RBI single to left field.
Russellville added an insurance run in the bottom of the second when Ezzell singled to left and brought in Jackson Smith.
The Red Devils mounted a comeback I the top of the third by scoring three runs. Gist put the Golden Tigers up 6-3 in the bottom of the inning when he stole home plate on a wild pitch.
Lawrence County scored its last run of the game in the top of the fourth, but Russellville was not quite done adding points to the scoreboard.
Austin Kitterman scored after a double by Ezzell in the bottom of the fourth, and the last two runs of the game came in the bottom of the fifth on a double by Smith, bringing in Daniel, and an error that allowed Smith to score.
Luke Harris started the game on the mound for Russellville. He pitched 2.2 innings with three hits, three runs, four strikeouts and four walks. Jacob Seal came on in relief and pitched 4.1 innings with two hits, one run, three strikeouts and three walks.
In game two played on Thursday in Moulton, it was Lawrence County that came out ahead in the end.
Ezzell stole home plate on a wild pitch in the top of the third, Kitterman scored on a triple by Ezzell in the seventh and Ezzell scored a few plays later on a double by Evans.
This was not enough to top the Red devils in this game, though. Jacob Green picked up the loss for Russellville. He pitched six innings, giving up five hits and four runs with four strikeouts and four walks.
Game three, the nightcap on Thursday, ended up being played out much like game one.
The Golden Tigers took an early 3-0 in the top of the first when Smith took home plate on a wild pitch, Harris hit an RBI single to right field bringing in Gist and Ezzell advancing to home on a wild throw.
Lawrence County scored a run of its own in the bottom of the inning, but Russellville answered with six more in the second.
Daniel scored on a wild pitch, followed by Smith scoring after a single by Gist. The last run of the inning came on a sacrifice by Ezzell that brought in Gist.
The 6-1 score line would remain intact until the top of the sixth when the Golden Tigers added an insurance run when Isaac Fleming walked with the bases loaded, bringing in Landon Smothers.
Russellville scored its final two runs of the contest in the seventh inning. Smith doubled to center field, bringing in Chase Fretwell. And Daniel scored as well during the play.
The Red Devils mounted a last ditch comeback in the bottom of the seventh, the final inning. They scored five runs, four of which came on starting pitcher Smith. Kitterman was brought to the mound in relief and struck out the final three oust of the game. He did give up the final run of the inning for Lawrence County, but the damage was stopped before the Red Devils could complete the comeback.
The Golden Tigers are now 13-7 on the season and 2-1 in region play. They will play against Huntsville and Austin at Austin Monday, April 1.
