The Russellville High School softball team socked 13 hits and scored nearly half its runs in the first frame, and went on to defeat Todd County Central 12-2 in five innings. With the loss, the Rebels finish their six-game 13th District regular slate winless.
The first five RHS batters reached base to start the bottom of the first inning, allowing the host Panthers to build an early lead. Following a wild pitch that brought home the contest’s first run, Addie Mosier took advantage of her opportunity with a two-run single to give Russellville a 3-0 lead.
An RBI single by Crissy Higgins and RBI groundout by Akiah Bell capped the five-run first inning to put Todd Central in a difficult hole. Madison Penrod then gave the Panthers a 7-0 advantage with a two-out RBI single in the third.
Todd County Central finally struck in the fifth inning, when Samantha Case smacked her team-best fourth home run of the season — a two-run bomb with two outs to cut Russellville’s lead to 7-2. The Panthers (19-9) quickly countered with four runs in the bottom half of the fifth, however, highlighted by a two-run HR from Collier. The sophomore leadoff hitter finished 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Case went 1-for-2 with a run and two RBIs in defeat.
In addition to her homer, Collier (10-7) got the victory in the circle. She scattered six hits and struck out seven in the six-inning complete game. Her 10th win of the year was made official when Madison Cardwell’s pop fly to shallow left brought in Bell to end the game via the mercy rule.
The Rebels (10-12) are back on the diamond May 20 at Fort Campbell. The Falcons (5-13) have gone 4-4 in their last eight games.
