A pitcher’s duel turned into a run-scoring free-for-all in the final inning as the Christian County Lady Colonels closed out its regular season with a 6-5 win over Russellville Wednesday.
Trailing 5-2 in the seventh inning, Avery Adcock induced a one-out walk ahead of Karlee Crick’s seventh home run of the season to get the Lady Colonels to within a run.
After a Gracie Harned single, Kaleigh Shaw ripped a 2-1 pitch into the gap in right-center field to score pinch runner Brittan Joiner with the tying run.
Russellville opted to intentionally walk the next two batters to load the bases and create a force play. However, a 3-1 pitch to Ally Houchens grazed her arm to force in the winning run.
It was only the third game between the schools in the past 19 years with Christian County winning the previous two games in 2004 and 2014.
The game was tied 2-2 through six innings. Russellville scored on a Lady Colonel error in the second inning.
Christian County tied the game in the fourth inning when a two-out misplayed fly ball allowed Gracie Harned to score. Harned had three singles in the game. Shaw scored later in the inning on a passed ball with the bases loaded.
The Lady Panthers tied the game in the sixth inning when A’miyah Collier sent a 2-0, two-out pitch over the right field fence. Collier has 11 home runs this year and is approaching 50 for her Russellville career.
Russellville broke the 2-2 tie in the seventh when Jaylah Klees led off with a single and scored on a Rayleigh Roberts sacrifice fly to center. Two more runs followed on a misplayed fly ball in the outfield.
Russellville outhit Christian County 10-9. Crick and Shaw each had a pair of hits for the Lady Colonels.
Ja’eda Poindexter, Chloe Penrod, and Madison Penrod each had two hits for Russellville. Collier took the loss, allowing four earned runs in six-plus innings.
Jordan Turner improved to 11-6. She gave up two earned runs in seven innings and struck out three.
Russellville was denied its 20th win of the season but will get a chance to reach the milestone when they play at University Heights Academy Saturday.
Christian County (17-12) will play UHA in Monday’s district tournament semifinals.
