Russellville scored five runs in the sixth inning to beat Bowling Green 8-5 on the road to start the season Thursday. It’s the second straight season the Lady Panthers have beaten BGH.
Tonisha Hampton began the inning with a walk. After Johnea Pendleton moved her over, Macy Meacham, who has returned after a two and two-thirds year stint as a Logan County student, singled. After another out, Taryn Gray and Tiffany Gray each walked, Cierra Collins singled, and winning pitcher Tara Gilbert cleaned the bases with a triple.
The Lady Purples responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth, but it wasn’t enough.
The other three RHS runs came to start the game. Collins led off with a double, Gilbert walked, Brooklyn Ray reached on an outfield error. Hampton singled in Collins, Pendleton and Meacham walked, and Allison McDaniel singled.
Collins and Gilbert finished with two hits each, and Gilbert totaled three RBIs. Meacham, McDaniel and both Grays got one hit each.
Peanut Martin had three each of hits and RBIs for the Lady Purples while Gia Martin and Jade Nichols each had two hits. Deja Moore and Abigail Peay each added a hit.
Only two of the five Lady Purple runs were earned off Gilbert, who gave up nine hits but only walked one batter.
The win came in the debut of Calvin Head as the Lady Panther softball coach. He is also the RHS athletic director and girls basketball coach. He previously coached softball and boys basketball at his alma mater, Todd Central.