The Russellville High School softball squad struck early at the plate and received a huge lift from Amiyah Collier in the circle on Tuesday, leading to a 7-1 victory over Todd County Central.
It was a pair of early errors that helped the Panthers set the tone, as back-to-back miscues by Todd Central allowed Chloe Whitescarver and Reese Croslin to score in the first inning and put RHS up 2-0. That’s all Collier (4-0) needed, as the sophomore slinger struck out eight, scattered five hits, and allowed just one run in the complete-game win.
Russellville continued to pour it on in the second inning. After Akiah Bell doubled to lead off the top of the frame, she scored on Chloe Penrod’s RBI single two pitches later. Penrod filled up the stat sheet by going 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBIs, and a run. Collier helped herself out with a one-out RBI single — also in the second inning — to stake the Panthers to a comfortable 4-0 lead.
The Rebels, who have dropped six of their last eight games, managed to get on the board and cut Russellville’s lead to 4-1 in the third inning when Addison Woodall delivered a lead-off bunt single and scored on Abby Williams’ bunted fielder’s choice. Jocelyn Mock kept the attempted rally alive with a two-out single to center, but Collier managed to induce an Abigail McPherson groundout to end the threat.
Williams (2-1) suffered her first loss of the season after giving up four hits, four runs (two earned), and a walk, in three innings. She did strike out three. McPherson issued five walks and gave up three runs (one earned) in four innings of relief.
Todd County Central (6-7) will try to get back to .500 on April 29 in a home matchup against Cedar Hill, Tennessee’s Jo Byrns. The Rebels fell to Red Devils 10-3 on April 12.
