Lady Indians can't handle New Bloomfield

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Eddie Makin (cq) of Crystal Clear Window Cleaning washes windows Friday morning at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.

RUSSELLVILLE - New Bloomfield's starting pitcher Kate Baxter had her way on the mound Thursday against Russellville, leading her team to a 13-0 win.

Her pitching arsenal featured a nasty change-up that kept the Lady Indians off balance all game.

"Because of her change-up, we were on our front foot some," Russellville head coach Trisha Volkart said. "Even still, we were able to make contact a few times. They're all hitting it well, just not finding any holes."

Baxter pitched all five innings, giving up three hits and not allowing a run while striking out five Russellville batters.

"New Bloomfield is very sound," Volkart said. "They threw their No. 2 pitcher, if that says anything about their team. They're pretty solid."

Russellville's Sidney Mehrhoff started on the hill, and retired the first two batters in the first inning with a fly out and a ground out, but New Bloomfield put the next five batters on base. Haley Berhorst walked, Madison Love doubled and Stephanie Davis singled to score the first two runs, then Baylee Garrett singled and Shelby Ruppel doubled to score two more.

Mehrhoff settled down the next two innings, allowing just one run, but Russellville's offense couldn't string together hits.

In the first inning, McKendra Fischer singled then stole second base, but was left stranded. Then, the Lady Indians went down in order in the second and third innings.

"Offensively, we put the ball in play a lot," Volkart said. "We just weren't able to find any holes, so I'm happy the girls are seeing the ball well and hitting it well. But, when we get base runners, we have to execute and move them around and put them through the plate."

Russellville got a leadoff single by Libby Mueller in the fourth, but was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice, as Taylor Case reached first base. Case was later stranded on second base. In the fifth, pinch hitter Chyan Wilkes had a bunt single to get another leadoff hitter on base, but was left on second base to end the game.

"I'm not too upset with the effort tonight," Volkart said. "They're playing hard, they're improving over last game. Overall we're getting better every day. We just had to put all the pieces of the puzzle together at the same time."