The Rushville Lady Lions’ softball team used a huge first inning to go up on EIAC rival Greensburg on Monday evening. Rushville put up eight runs in the first frame and held the Lady Pirates scoreless until the fourth inning. Molly Zachery singled in the winning run in the bottom of the fifth giving Rushville an 11-1 win. Stacey Roberts tossed a complete game while allowing just two hits and striking out seven.
The Lady Lions came to bat in the bottom of the first inning and with two outs, they went on a scoring spree. Belle Gossett scored from third on a wild pitch, Kylie Gray doubled knocking in two runs, Ericka Kuhn doubled knocking in Gray. Kuhn made her way to third on a hard-hit groundball by Katelyn Asher, then scored on a wild pitch. Briley Munchel cleared the bases and picked up two RBIs before she made her way to third and stole home to put Rushville up 8-0. Roberts faced nine Greensburg batters through three innings and retired them all. The Lady Lions still led after three frames 8-0.
Greensburg got on the board in the fourth inning when Lydia Balser led off the inning with a double and Kaydence Gates singled to knock in her teammate in the next at-bat. Gossett led off for Rushville in the bottom half of the inning and roped a double to left field; she scored along with Zachery on a Roberts single. The Lady Lions led after four innings 10-1.
Roberts got the Lady Pirates to go three up, three down in the top of the fifth inning. Layla Shepherdson got on base in the bottom half of the frame and Gossett doubled again, moving Shepherdson to third; Zachery connected, sending the winning run home with a walkoff single to centerfield. The 11-1 win puts the Lady Lions at 5-3 on the season and 2-3 in EIAC games.
Gossett went two for three in the game, Zachery and Gray also had two hits each, helping RCHS finish with 10 hits. Gray had two RBIs to lead Rushville. Greensburg managed two hits (Balser, Gates) against Roberts, who issued just one walk to Alexis Condon in the game. Balser took the loss for the Lady Pirates, lasting two-thirds of the first inning. Gates tossed the final four innings for Greensburg and finished with five strikeouts and just one earned run. Rushville will travel to Knightstown Wednesday evening then host Greenfield- Central Thursday. Greensburg will host North Decatur this evening at 5:30pm.