Golden Tigers pitcher winds up on the mound. The Golden Tigers brought home for wins last week with superior performance on both the mound and at bat.

By Brannon King

For the FCT

The Russellville baseball team improved its record to 14-1 by picking up four more wins in the past week. The Golden Tigers won two home games against Central of Florence and then swept two games in Decatur on Saturday, one against the Red Raiders and another against the Ardmore Tigers.

The Golden Tigers dominated Central in the first game, winning 10-0. A big third inning was the key frame for RHS. Russellville scored nine runs in the third and added a single run in the fourth for the victory. Austin Bohannon started the game on the mound for Russellville and picked up the win. He pitched four innings, giving up one hit, and he struck out four Central batters. Skylar Holland came on to pitch the final inning for RHS.

Austin Kitterman had two hits for Russellville. Reed Smith, Judd Ward, Holland, Bailey Thompson, Cody Greenhill and Russ Carpenter also had hits for the Golden Tigers.

Russellville defeated Central 10-3 in game two. The Wildcats committed eight errors in the loss to help the Golden Tigers pull away. RHS had eight hits in the game and was led by Smith, who went three for five and scored two runs. Ward, Holland, Thompson, Carpenter and Kitterman all had hits for Russellville.

Chad Wray pitched four innings and picked up the win. He gave up two hits and struck out one batter.  Landon Ezzell pitched the final three innings, giving up two hits and striking out four Wildcats.

“We had some younger guys who are a little less experienced on the mound in game two, but I thought they had a good showing,” Russellville Head Coach Chris Heaps said.  “We’re just trying to get everybody some at-bats, trying to get everybody some time on the mound and get ready for the deep run of our season.”

Saturday, Russellville traveled to Decatur and won the first game by a 14-6 score. The Golden Tigers had 16 hits in the game and were led by Holland’s 4-5 performance at the plate, which included two home runs and six RBI.

Smith, Ward, Bohannon and Carpenter each had two hits for RHS. Bohannon, Kitterman and Greenhill all had home runs for the Golden Tigers.

Kitterman pitched four innings for Russellville and picked up the win. He allowed four hits, one earned run and picked up two strike outs of Decatur hitters. Holland came on in relief and pitched three innings, giving up one earned run and three hits.

The Ardmore Tigers were the second opponent of the day in Decatur for Russellville on Saturday, and the Golden Tigers defeated them, 7-1.  RHS had 12 hits in the game, while Ardmore only had three.

Russellville scored four of their seven runs in the second inning and added single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings. Kitterman led the team at the plate with three hits. Smith and Ward both went 2-3 for RHS. Holland, Thompson, Bohannon, Carpenter and Tom Barkley Scott all had a hit for Russellville.

Greenhill started the game on the mound and gave up no runs in two innings pitched. Bohannon threw four innings for the win, and Wray came on to finish the game off by striking out three batters in his one inning pitched.