The Russellville Lady Panthers split their two games in the Kelly Russell Classic at home this weekend, beating Metcalfe County 7-2 and losing to McLean County 4-2.
Macy Meacham pitched the complete game win shortly after her dad, Greg Meacham, caught the opening pitch from Jo Anne Russell Bennett, sister of the late Kelly Russell. Greg Meacham was Kelly’s football and baseball teammate.
Macy threw a 3-hitter and walked five Lady Hornets. Of her 101 pitches, 70 were strikes.
Coach Calvin Head’s team got on the board first when Tara Gilbert walked, stole second and came home on Brooklyn Ray’s groundout.
Two runs scored in the second inning when Johnea Pendleton doubled, Meacham and Taryn Gray each walked. Susanna Higgins and Cierra Collins each singled and Gilbert walked. Meacham and Gray scored the runs.
In the third inning, Tonisha Hampton singled, Pendleton reached on an error, Allison McDaniel singled, and Higgins walked. Hampton and Pendleton scored the runs.
For a third inning, the Lady Panthers scored twice in the fifth. McDaniel reached on an error, but was forced by Higgins. Collins doubled in Higgins and then scored on a wild pitch.
Pendleton and Collins each had two hits with both hitting doubles while Hampton, Meacham, McDaniel and Higgins added a hit each. Higgins and Pendleton were both on base three times, and Collins, Gilbert, Meacham, and McDaniel were on twice each.
McLean 4, RHS 2
Russellville outhit the Lady Cougars 8-2 but McLean County made theirs count twice as much.
Ray, Meacham and Gray each had two hits with Gilbert and Higgins getting one each. Ray and Gray recorded the RBIs. Meacham and Higgins scored the runs. Ray tripled and Meacham doubled.
Gilbert was the losing pitcher, giving up the four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out eight. Only one of the runs was earned.