Lady Golden Tigers continue hot streak

Jakari Suggs getting ready to throw a pitch.

Russellville 2, Deshler 0
Jakari Suggs’ big play performance helped Russellville (6-4) secure 2-0 over rival Deshler Tigers.
The Lady Golden Tigers used three short ground balls, two stolen bases and three Deshler errors to piece together the decisive rally, scoring twice to take the lead. Suggs (4-2), a senior who leads Russellville’s big play of pitchers, finished things off in the top of the seventh, stranding a pair of runners to preserve a 2-0 win.
“Jakari doesn’t walk many people,” said Coach John Smith. “We’ve got a pretty good defense, but we can’t make a play on a walk. If she forces them to hit the ball, we’ve at least got a chance to make a play on it.”

Brooke Borden takes on Decatur High.

Russellville 4, Mars Hill 1
Russellville (7-4) continued to stay hot with big plays from Kalli Beth Daniel to help lift Lady Golden Tigers to a 4-1 win over Mars Hill.
Megan Brockway broke up a tie game with a two-run double in the fourth inning on Friday, and Emma Whitfield and Jakari Suggs combined to pitch a three-hitter as Russellville beat Mars Hill 4-1 at H.A. Alexander Park in Moulton.
The game was tied 1-1 when Kalli Beth Daniel took a walk from Mars Hill, then Brockway delivered a two-run double to put Russellville on top. Lily Holt’s two-out double to left brought home Brockway and made it 4-1.
Whitfield (3-1) started and picked up the win, allowing one unearned run on two hits in 3.1 innings. She struck out three and walked none. Suggs relieved with one out in the bottom of the fourth and recorded the final five outs to earn the save. She allowed one hit and struck out two.
Daniel finished 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. Brockway, Holt and Madison Lamon each went 1-for-2, and Lamon stole a base.
Gooch took the loss for Mars Hill, allowing four runs (just one earned) on five hits in five innings. She struck out nine and walked one.
Russellville 3,  Colbert County 0
Help from Suggs and Morgan George gave Russellville a big 3-0 win over Colbert County to improve to 8-4. Senior pitcher Suggs (5-2) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning last Saturday morning and went on to record her third shutout of the season, leading Russellville past Colbert County 3-0 in the Hatton Invitational at H.A. Alexander Park.
Russellville (8-4) added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth. Karlie Moore led off with a single and then scored on a triple by George. Megan Brockway singled home George to make it 3-0.
The Lady Golden Tigers scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the third when Kayla Cochran doubled to left, moved to third on a bunt single by George and then came home on a two-out infield hit by Daniel.
Suggs, who had previously pitched shutouts against West Limestone and Deshler, allowed just three hits in a five-inning complete game. She struck out five and walked one.
George led the Lady Golden Tigers at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. Cochran was 1-for-3 with a double and a run, and Daniel went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base. Brockway was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a steal, and Brooke Borden went 1-for-3 with two stolen bases. Moore was 1-for-2 with a run.
Russellville 6,  Decatur High 8
Despite a home run from Jess Guzman, the Lady Golden Tigers’ rally fell short as they dropped a close 8-6 game to Decatur High.
Guzman hit her second home run of the season for Russellville Saturday, but the Lady Golden Tigers couldn’t overcome an early five-run deficit in an 8-6 loss to Decatur at the Hatton Invitational.
Decatur scored five big runs in the top of the first inning to grab a big early lead. Brockway’s RBI single in the bottom of the inning got Russellville (8-5) on the board, and then Guzman’s two-run shot to left in the bottom of the second cut the lead to 5-3.
Decatur tacked on a run in the top of the third, but Russellville rallied again in the bottom half, getting RBI doubles from Lily Holt and Madison Lamon to climb within a run at 6-5. Decatur would  answer with two runs in the top of the fourth to end the Lady Golden Tigers hopes of a comeback to hold on for the win.
Brockway finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Daniel was 1-for-3 with a run and a steal, and George also had a hit and scored a run.

Emma Whitfield (3-2) started and took the loss for the Lady Golden Tigers. Suggs pitched three innings in relief, allowing three runs (none of them earned) on five hits. She struck out one and walked one.
“We are still a work in progress – still have several weakness to work on,” Smith said. “Confusion on our signs and execution of small ball are things we need to continue to improve on. We are playing very consistent. Pitching is good, hitting is good, and defense is good. Just the whole team effort has been huge for us.
“We are looking for perfection. That’s the key to the big wins.”