LINN, Mo. - The Russellville Indians softball team defeated the Linn Wildcats 6-0 on June 25.
The game was scoreless until the top of the third inning when with two outs, Reagan Jenkins hit a triple to right field that allowed the runner on third base to score to give the Indians a 1-0 lead. The next batter, Ryleigh Case, hit a single to make it a 2-0 game. Another run was scored after two more hits to make it 3-0. Russellville scored two more runs before the inning ended with the Indians leading 5-0.
Head coach Lucas Branson said scoring runs with two outs is huge.
"It simply meant our hitters were staying focused on putting together quality at bats and we produced," he said.
The Indians were able to get a lot of balls in play while they were batting, and Branson said the hitters each had a very good approach and plan when they were in the batters box.
"That is good to see, since it has been something we have focused on quite a bit in practice," Branson said.
The score remained the same until the top of the fifth inning, as Russellville's pitching and defense continued to keep Linn off the score board.
With one out in the top of the fifth inning, Case hit a triple and later scored on an RBI ground out off the bat of Kalyn Smith to make it 6-0.
Linn had one last chance to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning with two runners on and two outs, but Russellville was able to get the final out without letting the Wildcats score.
A shut-out win is big for the team's confidence, Branson said.
"(It) meant pitching and defense was sound," he added.
The team's next game is at home at 5:30 p.m. July 7 against Fatima.