RHS falls to Decatur
J.R. Tidwell/FCT
Austin Kitterman (7) of the Russellville Golden Tigers winds up on the mound in a game played last season. Kitterman pitched to the most batters in Monday’s game against Decatur and allowed no runs.
DECATUR — It looked like the Russellville Golden Tigers were going to pick up yet another win over a larger school Monday, but a late comeback propelled Decatur past the Golden Tigers by a final of 10-8.
Both teams went scoreless in the first inning, and it was Russellville that put the first points of the game on the board in the bottom of the second.
Blake Hyde hit a line drive single to left field that scored Hayden Evans.
The Golden Tigers once again held Decatur scoreless in the top of the third, and once again Russellville added a run to the board in the bottom of the inning.
Jordan Gist sacrificed Jackson Smith over to third base, and Smith ended up scoring on the play.
It was not until the top of the fourth inning that Decatur got its first run of the game. It came on a bases loaded-walk, but pitcher Luke Harris got his team out of the jam with the next batter, who flied out to Smith.
Kaleb Daniel singled to the pitcher on a bunt in the bottom of the inning that scored Hyde, making it 3-1 in Russellville’s favor.
The Golden Tigers had a big inning in the fifth by scoring four insurance runs.
Logan Ezzell got things started when he reached first base after being hit by a pitch.
Jacob Seal reached base on an E-3, and Ezzell advanced to second. A wild pitch allowed both runners to advance a base during an at-bat by Harris.
On a 3-2 pitch Harris hit a line drive to left field that brought home Ezzell and advanced Seal to third.
A wayward throw allowed Seal to reach home and Harris to advance to second base.
Another wild pitch gave Harris the chance to take third, and Hyde singled to second base bringing in Harris.
Hyde would later come around the bases and score on a wild throw.
All of the runs for the Golden Tigers in the inning came with two outs.
Russellville had a comfortable 7-1 lead at this point in the game, but a huge inning for Decatur in the sixth tied the game at 7-7.
The Red Raiders picked up points on a RBI single to left field, a sac fly to center field, a three-run homer over the left field wall and a run scored on a wild throw.
Despite the rapid comeback, Russellville kept its composure and retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth thanks to the baserunning of Gist.
He walked on four pitches to start the inning. He then stole second, advanced to third and then home on an error by the center fielder.
Once again Decatur tied the game in the seventh on a RBI single to center field.
The score would remain tied at 8-8 throughout the rest of the nine innings, and the two teams found themselves going into extra innings to decide the match.
The Red Raiders scored the final two runs of the game in the top of the 10th on an error and a RBI single.
The Golden Tigers were unable to match that in the bottom of the inning, and Decatur completed the comeback and picked up the W.
Hyde and Daniel both went three for five on the day. Hyde had two RBIs and Daniel had one.
The Golden Tigers pitched by committee in the game by sending eight different players to the mound.
It was Tyler Childers that ended up with the loss. He gave up two runs and one hit in one inning of work with two walks and no strikeouts.
Jacob Green was the starting pitcher for Russellville on the day.
He pitched for two innings and gave up no runs on two hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
Harris threw for two innings and allowed one run off one hit with two strikeouts and two walks.
Seal pitched 1.1 innings and gave up two runs on one hit with one walk and no strikeouts.
Ezzell, Landon Smothers and Hyde each pitched for a third of an inning. They allowed five runs between them off three hits.
Austin Kitterman did the most work on the mound for the Golden Tigers in the game.
He threw for two and two-thirds innings and gave up no runs and only one hit with two strikeouts and two walks.
Russellville, now 16-9 on the season, will take on rival Muscle Shoals today at home in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
