Russellville has posted big wins the past couple of weeks, winning seven of the last nine games to keep red hot and on fire with consistent pitching from Jakari Suggs and Emma Whitfield. Team effort from the offense and defense has really played a big part in the Golden Lady Tigers’ success this year, Coach John Smith said.
“Like I always say, if we stick to the big three – good pitching, good defense and timely hits – it gives us the best chance to win. Those are the keys to winning,” Smith said.
Suggs got a great start with all the offensive support she would need in the first inning Monday afternoon, thanks to the two big swings from Jess Guzman and Megan Brockway.
Guzman and Brockway both homered in the top of the first, and Suggs allowed just two hits in a complete game to record her fourth shutout of the season as Russellville rolled to a big 13-0 win at Tharptown.
“We got off to a good fast start with big hits early, and the defense got outs. We just kept the pressure on them the whole game,” Smith said.
Guzman got things started in the first with her third home run of the season, a solo shot to center with one out. After a walk to Kalli Beth Daniel, Brockway blasted her second homer of the year, a two-run shot to center that made it 3-0.
Suggs (6-2) took care of the rest. Russellville (9-5) added another run in the top of the third when Daniel led off with a triple and scored on an error.
The Lady Golden Tigers then broke the game open with seven runs in the fourth. Brooke Borden started the rally with a bunt hit and then added an RBI single later, which also included an RBI double by Guzman and RBI singles by Brockway and Suggs.
Daniel finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored, raising her season average to a team-best .532 (17-for-32). Brockway went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored; she’s now batting .517 (15-for-29) on the year with a team-high 17 RBIs.
Guzman and Borden both went 2-for-3 on Monday with two RBIs. Lily Holt was 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI, and Morgan George also drove in a run. Karlie Moore was 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored, and Kayla Cochran added a hit. Madison Lamon and Lauren Rogers each scored two runs.
“I think if we stay consistent and play within ourselves and don’t force anything or any mental mistakes such as errors, we can play with anyone and win,” Smith said.