Golden Tigers battle to win two in home-stand
Russellville took two-of-three contests held March 9-10 against Austin, Etowah and Hartselle at home.
Russellville 3, Austin 2
Bad weather delayed the Golden Tigers and 7A Black Bears a day, but it was worth the wait for RHS.
With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Andrew Hatton led off with a double. Casen Heaps followed with a bunt that not only advanced the runner but resulted in a hit.
Then, an intentional walk to Nathan Brockway loaded the bases to set the scene for a game-winning hit down the left field line by Eli Gipson.
Heaps was three-for-three in the game, including a double, and he also scored a run. Reed Hill was two-for-two with a double and a walk. Grayson Thorpe also helped the RHS cause with a single, walk and RBI.
Emitt Green got the start on the mound and went four innings, allowing two unearned runs.
Samuel Pace worked the final three frames to get the win. The big right-hander allowed no hits or runs and struck out three batters.
Russellville 7, Etowah 3
In the first of two games March 10, the Golden Tigers took down the Blue Devils of Etowah. For the second-straight game, Russellville had eight hits: Canyon Pace and Hatton had two singles each, and also getting hits were Gipson, Hill, Shayden Romans and Heaps.
The hit by Hill was a double, and he also had a walk and an RBI and scored a run during the contest. Gipson, Pace, Romans and Heaps had additional RBIs for RHS.
Banks Langston started the game on the mound for Russellville and went five innings. He struck out four and allowed three hits.
Brayden Spurgeon got the win in relief by pitching two innings, allowing one hit and no runs. Spurgeon struck out two and walked none.
Hartselle 6, Russellville 1
6A power Hartselle took the nightcap over RHS with a dominating pitching performance from future Auburn Tiger Elliott Bray. The right-hander threw a complete-game on 108 pitches and struck out 16 Russellville batters. He allowed six hits and walked one over the course of seven innings.
