Russellville Indians baseball team played its first game of the season Friday night at Skyline. The Indians got off to a slow start offensively and fell behind 3-0 in the third inning. However, they would return with eight runs after a pitching change in the fifth inning and eight more runs in the seventh inning to put away the Skyline Tigers 16-5.
The game started off with a strong pitching battle between Russellville's Jesse Daniel and Skyline's Trent Pinon.
In the bottom of the second, Skyline scored the first two runs of the game on an error to first base and then a RBI double to left-center field. The Tigers added a third run in the third inning off back-to-back doubles with two outs to go up 3-0.
Through four innings, Pinon held Russellville to only two hits, no runs and seven strikeouts in the first four innings. In the fifth inning, Pinon walked Russellville's lead-off batter, Daniel, and was then taken out of the game after reaching his pitching limit. When Pinon left the game, the Indians began to get an offensive rhythm.
Russellville rallied off relief pitcher Cohen Mashburn for five straight runs in the fifth. The Indians then added three more runs after Mashburn was replaced by Zack Kelly for an eight-run fifth inning.
The Indians were ahead 8-4 going into the seventh inning and doubled their score with eight more runs to put the game out of Skyline's reach. Russellville won the game by a final score of 16-5.
Russellville players Bryce Bryant, Jake Schulte, Jesse Daniel and Charlie Miller played key roles during the game.
Bryant went 3-4 with three RBIs, two runs and a walk. Bryant put the Indians ahead 5-3 in the fifth inning with a two-run single to left field; Schulte had two doubles with three RBIs. On the mound, Schulte pitched two innings with three strikeouts and a walk; Daniel got the win for the Indians as he pitched three innings, allowed three hits, three runs, a walk and had three strikeouts. Daniel batted 2-4 with a run and an RBI; and Charlie Miller also batted 2-4 with a run and an RBI. Miller also threw the last two innings of the game and had five strikeouts on 26 pitches.
Head coach Lucas Branson liked the way his team battled through adversity in the game with their hitting struggles. Branson believes his team's experience played a big factor in Russellville overcoming a three-run deficit and gave his underclassmen playing time when the Indians got a big lead.
"It was definitely was a good start to our season. There were some mistakes on both sides of the ball early on, but our guys continued to compete when getting down 3-0 early in the game so I am pleased with that," Branson said. "I really feel like the overall experience we have and our depth showed in this game as we were able to get a lot of players in to begin getting some of our younger players some experience in varsity games."
The Indians will play Thursday night in Tuscumbia.
Catcher Jake Schulte went 2-4 with 3 RBI's in Russellville's 16-5 win over Skyline on Friday night. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Senior Jesse Daniel pitched three innings for the Indians on Saturday night with three strikeouts. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Senior Jake Schulte pitched the fourth and the fifth innings for the Indians against Skyline. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Senior Charlie Miller closed out Friday's game with by throwing five strikeouts on 26 pitches in the sixth and seventh innings. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Jake Schulte touches home plate to tie the ball game 3-3 in the fifth inning. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Junior Nolan Gartner slides into second for a stolen base. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)