Golden Tigers beat Hazel Green in opener

RUSSELLVILLE – Russellville High School opened its baseball season with a doubleheader split against Hazel Green.

Head coach Jess Smith’s squad got the win in game one by a 4-1 final score, but Hazel Green answered to take game two by a score of 14-7.

Brayden Entrekin got the start on the mound in game one and the left-hander went five innings allowing no runs and three hits to get the win. Gunner Sappington worked the final two innings, and the senior right-hander allowed one unearned run and two hits. Entrekin struck out five and Sappington added three strikeouts.

Ty Willis got the Golden Tigers on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the third inning. During the same inning, Bryson Cooper added a RBI single, and Tripp Cleveland scored on a passed ball to give the Golden Tigers a 3-0 advantage.

Brayden Hatton brought home Russellville’s other run in the fifth inning on a RBI bunt single. Willis and Cooper led RHS with two hits each.

A seven-run third inning helped push Hazel Green to the win in game two.

Russellville had six hits in the loss. Entrekin led the team with two hits while Ty Engelthaler, Cleveland, Tristan Ray and Caleb Hawkins also hit safely. Engelthaler, Entrekin, Cleveland, Thorpe, Cooper and Ray had RBIs for Russellville.

The Golden Tigers traveled to Austin High School in Decatur the following day and defeated the Black Bears, 8-4.

Willis got the start on the mound and went three innings allowing no hits or runs. Hawkins pitched the final four frames allowing two earned runs.

Brennon Thorpe led RHS with two RBI. Willis and Engelthaler added one RBI each. Entrekin, Willis and Engelthaler had two hits each. They were joined in the hit column by Ray.

Austin committed five errors on defense and Russellville had three errors.