RUSSELLVILLE - Two drastically different games took place on the first day of the Russellville Round Robin Tournament.
Jamestown won a close game against Missouri Military Academy 5-2, and Russellville totaled 15 hits in its 15-5 win against the School of the Osage in five innings to end its six-game losing streak.
"We needed this, I mean, it has been a rough couple of weeks," Russellville coach Lucas Branson said. "When you're hitting the ball tothe right side, you're doing a lot of things right at the plate, so that was nice to see."
In the nightcap, Russellville jumped all over Osage, scoring three runs in the first inning and six in the second inning before Osage could scratch a run across in the top of the third.
Seth Kuda led the first inning off with a single to center, then Caleb Harrison doubled to right two batters later, scoring Kuda. After Ryland Johnson singled, moving Harrison to third, Zach Voss singled to bring Harrison home. Johnson later scored off a single by Isaac Kirchner.
The 3, 4 and 5 hitters in the lineup combined to go 9-for-11 with seven RBI. Harrison was 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI, Johnson batted 2-for-3 from the plate with a walk and two RBI and Voss was 4-for-4 with a triple and four RBI.
The No. 7-hole hitter, Cole Freeman, was 3-for-3 with a walk and four RBI.
"We've got some guys that lately have been struggling, so we juggled our lineup around a little bit," Branson said. "I don't know if what we're doing right now is the right thing, but we have some guys that are swinging the bat really well now."
With the 3-0 lead, Russellville wasn't content. The Indians batted around the lineup before recording an out in the second inning, and by that time it was 9-0.
Voss singled to center to score Harrison and Johnson to push the lead to 7-0, and Freeman's single up the middle scored Voss and courtesy runner Noah Stubinger to give them the commanding 9-0 lead.
"In our last couple of games we lost, I really felt that we gave those wins away," Branson said. "To come back after a game last night where we gave one away, it shows character. I think that it will build on good things (today)."
After Osage scored one in the third, Russellville answered with three in the bottom half of the inning, then three more in the fourth to push its lead to 15-3.
Osage tried to hold off the run-rule in the fifth by plating two runs to cut the lead to 15-5, but Kirchner recorded strikeouts for the final two outs, leaving a baserunner at third.
Kirchner started on the mound for Russellville, giving up five runs - four earned - on eight hits in five innings of work.
"He kind of struggled off and on with locating pitches, but he did a very good job in terms of challenging hitters," Branson said. "After not being on the mound for more than a week, I thought he pitched pretty well."
In the opening game of the tournament, Jamestown scored in four straight innings to give them the 5-2 lead heading into the seventh inning, where they held off a late push by M.M.A.
Evan Knierim homered to right to lead off the second inning, giving Jamestown a 1-0 lead, which it never relinquished.
Knierim was 2-for-4 from the plate with a run scored.
Jamestown added another run in the third to give it a 2-0 lead and two runs in the fourth pushed the lead to 4-1. Jamestown added a run in the fifth to make it 5-.
Garrett Wolfe grounded out to third base in the third inning to score Cole Theissen, and Theissen walked in the fourth with the bases loaded. Alex Gerlach was a hit by a pitch one batter later to score the second run in the fourth.
Theissen was 2-for-3 from the plate with a walk.
"He's playing a lot better," Jamestown coach Jordan Hoecker said. "A clear head and just hitting the ball well."
After M.M.A. cut the lead to 4-2, Jamestown push another run across a half inning later. Garrett Jones singled to right to score Christian DeVore to make it 5-2. M.M.A. threatened in the seventh, plating a runner, but Gerlach struck out two possible game-tying runners to end the game.
Gerlach pitched 21/3 innings in relief, allowing one run on one hit.
"Alex came in and his arm looked a lot better today then it did in relief last night," Hoecker said. "He battled through last night and competed today and he looked good."
DeVore got the start on the bump, allowing two earned runs on six hits and striking out six in 42/3 innings of work.
"Christian did a heck of a job today," Hoecker said. "They were a really solid team and Christian did really well for himself out there."
Russellville (4-9) and M.M.A. will get the day started with a 9:30 a.m. contest and Jamestown (11-3) and Osage will meet at noon. After Osage and M.M.A battle at 2:30 p.m., Russellville and Jamestown will end the round robin tournament at 5 p.m.