Athens blanks RHS

By Staff
Mike Self, Franklin County Times
Russellville lost its softball home opener on Monday, falling 12-0 to visiting Athens.
The Lady Eagles jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the top of the first inning.
Kara Sykes led off the bottom of the first with a double as Russellville put two runners on with nobody out, but the Lady Golden Tigers failed to score.
Breanna Malone held Athens in check over the next three innings, but Russellville was unable to break through offensively. A base hit by Tiffany Watkins in the bottom of the second put runners at first and second with two outs, but Athens was again able to escape the jam.
Malone retired nine consecutive batters at one point, but an infield hit with one out in the top of the fifth started a three-run rally by the Lady Eagles that gave them a 6-0 lead.
Athens tacked on six more runs in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach.
Malone finished with six strikeouts in five innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits.
Russellville returned to action on Tuesday with a game at Belgreen. The Lady Golden Tigers will play at Red Bay on Thursday.
In other recent action:
Cherokee 3 Tharptown 2
Krystal Elliott tossed a no-hitter and also drove in three runs to lead the Lady Indians past Tharptown at Tom Strange Park on Monday.
Cherokee took a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by Elliott in the first inning, and the UNA signee blasted a two-run homer in the fourth to make it 3-0.
Tharptown scored a pair of unearned runs in the sixth inning to make it 3-2, but Cherokee held on.
Elliott struck out 10 and walked four in a complete game.