The Logan County Lady Cougars scored eight runs in the top of the fifth inning to break open a close game at Russellville Tuesday on the way to a 12-2 win in five innings.
After Sydni Blick drew a bases-loaded walk early in that inning, Kinley Holloway and Kiersten Harper each hit two-run singles, and then Nora Epley brought them in with a three-run homer.
Lady Cougar starting pitcher Addison Cartas, who had pitched no-hit, shutout ball up to that point, gave up a two-run homer to her opposing pitcher, Chloe Penrod, but then got the outs she needed to finish the 10-run-rule victory. Cartas gave up just one walk along with the homer.
Number eight hitter Madison Burgess went three-for-three to lead Coach Gary Gettings’ team in hitting.
Blick doubled for Logan’s only extra-base hit besides the homer; she also scored two runs. Trinity Case singled and walked, drove in two runs, and scored twice. That two-RBI hit by Case drove in the first two runs of the game in the first inning.
RHS Coach Ryan Davenport and Penrod wisely walked Logan’s two college softball signees, Emerson McKinnis and Epley, three times each. Of course, Epley’s fourth at-bat resulted in the homer. Epley stole two bases and scored three runs. Courtesy runner Caris Taylor, who lets catcher McKinnis get her gear back on while she takes her place on the bases, stole a base and scored twice.
With the three stolen bases, the Lady Cougars remained perfect on the season at 24 of 24 tries. They also played errorless defense.
The Lady Cougars improved their record to 14-3 and moved past Greenwood into second in the regional RPI standings with this impressive win. The Lady Panthers fell to 15-7 and remained as the sixth-rated team in the region.
Logan entertains Jo Byrns of Tennessee Thursday and then goes to the Muhlenberg County Lady Mustang Stampede. Scheduled games at the Ray Jones Complex are against Owensboro Senior at 9 a.m., followed by the host team at 11. Other games will follow.
Then Monday, Gettings’ team is scheduled for a showdown at home against the region’s top team, South Warren, which has a 21-1 record currently.
The Lady Panthers have five more consecutive home games scheduled, beginning with Hopkinsville Thursday, Warren Central Friday, Ohio County Monday and district opponents Todd Central and Franklin-Simpon next Tuesday and Thursday before heading to Owensboro for All A state tournament.