Lady Bobcats beat Lady Golden Tigers

J.R. Tidwell/FCT Sarah Hester (8) of Phil Campbell swings at a pitch against Russellville last Tuesday at Phil Campbell.

PHIL CAMPBELL —  Last Tuesday’s matchup between the Russellville Lady Golden Tigers and the Phil Campbell Lady Bobcats varsity softball squads can best be described as a pitchers duel.

In the end it was Phil Campbell that came out on top with a close 2-1 victory.

“It was a good game,” Russellville head coach Ted Ikerd said.

Lindsey Jackson of Phil Campbell squared off against Casey Brandenburg of Russellville.

Neither pitcher gave up a run for the first five innings of the game.

Both teams would get a little offense going beforehand, but inevitably the Lady Bobcats and Lady Golden Tigers would strand runners on base.

The tie was finally broken by Jordan Murray of Russellville, who hit a solo home run over the left field wall in the top of the sixth.

Phil Campbell was unable to answer in the bottom of the inning, but Jackson prevented the Lady Golden Tigers from scoring any insurance runs in the top of the seventh.

The Lady Bobcats were down to their final three outs of the game, but that’s when their bats came alive.

Korina Jimenez reached base in the top of the seventh before being brought in on an RBI double by Madison Hardy.

Jackson came up just a short time later and brought in Hardy with a walk off RBI single to center field.

“That was an over the hump game for us,” Phil Campbell head coach Darit Riddle said. “To be down in the seventh and keep composed says a lot about the girls.

Defensively Russellville is sound and they don’t make many mistakes.

It was an exciting game.”

Brandenburg pitched seven innings, giving up two runs and seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

“That’s a tough way to lose,” Ikerd said. “Casey pitched well for us.”

Jackson gave up one run on three hits while fanning six and walking one.