Golden Tigers snap losing streak with sweep

By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
RUSSELLVILLE – Corey Flanagan hit a tie-breaking two-run triple and Jacey Wilson struck out 11 batters in six-plus innings on Saturday as Russellville snapped a six-game losing streak with a 7-6 victory over Lawrence County (TN) in the first game of a doubleheader.
The Golden Tigers (29-12) completed the sweep with an 8-2 win in game two.
"It was nice to get back in the win column," said Russellville coach David Ward, whose team had dropped a total of six games to area rivals Muscle Shoals and Hartselle over the previous two weeks. "We've been struggling lately, and we struggled at the wrong time. Today we looked a little more like our old selves, especially in the second game."
Russellville was still alive in the Class 5A, Area 16 playoff race going into Tuesday. The Golden Tigers needed an Athens win over Hartselle to remain in the hunt.
Russellville would then need a doubleheader sweep of Hartselle on Thursday to qualify for the playoffs.
"We've still got a chance this year," junior Patrick Hines said after scoring two runs in each game on Saturday. "We can beat Hartselle. We just have to play like we played today, maybe even a little better."
The Golden Tigers trailed 3-1 in the opener before breaking through with six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, all with two outs.
Jacob Daniel's RBI double trimmed the lead to 3-2, and Matt Moss relieved Lawrence County starter Drew Stofel on the mound.
Cory Trapp reached on an error, and Torey Baird's RBI single tied the game.
Flanagan followed with a drive into the gap in right-center to score both runners for a 5-3 lead.
"It was a 3-1 count, and I was looking for a fastball," said Flanagan, who added another triple and a two-run double in game two to finish the day 4-for-6. "I just wanted to take the ball the other way."
After Matt Crawford walked and stole second, Preston Beasley's pinch-hit two-run single made it 7-3.
After allowing three unearned runs over the first two innings, Wilson settled into a groove and allowed just two hits while striking out six over the next four frames.
The junior righthander tired in the top of the seventh, surrendering four hits and a pair of bases-loaded walks as Lawrence County scored three runs to cut the lead to 7-6.
Trapp relieved with two outs and the bases loaded and retired leadoff man Orry Blackwood on a comebacker to earn the save.
Wilson ended up allowing six runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out 11 and walked two, throwing upwards of 140 pitches.
"I think Jacey got a little tired there at the end," Ward said. "He had to throw a lot of pitches early because we booted some balls behind him. I think that started to catch up to him in the last inning. But he really held them at bay while we were making our comeback, and Cory did a good job of coming into a tough spot and closing things down."
Russellville trailed in the second game 2-1 before taking control with four runs in the bottom of the second. Flanagan's two-run double put the Golden Tigers on top to stay, and Jake Ward followed with an RBI triple.
Ward then scored on a throwing error to make it 5-2.
Josh Smith had an RBI single in the third, and Russellville added a pair of late runs to lead 8-2.
Beasley earned the win, allowing two runs on four hits in a complete game. He struck out nine and walked one.
Trapp was 2-for-3 in the second game with an RBI and a run scored.
Russellville will host Hartselle in a doubleheader on Thursday beginning at 4:30 p.m.