Four errors by Russellville proved costly on Tuesday afternoon as the Lady Golden Tigers dropped a 5-2 decision at home to Austin.
Sophomore pitcher Krista Sikes went the distance for Russellville, striking out seven, walking three and holding Austin to four hits in seven innings. Of the five runs she allowed, only one was earned.
Austin took advantage of a walk and an error to score twice in the top of the first. The Lady Golden Tigers (6-4) got one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning. Sydney Burcham was hit by a pitch, stole a base and later scored on a groundout by Alivia Clemmons.
Sikes sailed through the next three innings, pitching around a leadoff single in the top of the third with a pair of strikeouts and then retiring Austin in order in the top of the fourth. She got the first two batters in the fifth as well, but a pair of two-out errors by Russellville helped Austin score twice and extend the lead to 4-1. The Lady Black Bears added another run in the sixth to make it 5-1.
Russellville rallied in its final at bat. Sikes reached on an error to start the bottom of the seventh and moved to third on a one-out single by Makala O'Neal. With two down, Burcham delivered an RBI single to make it 5-2 and bring the tying run to the plate. Lauren Rogers grounded out to third for the final out.
Burcham finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run and two stolen bases. Clemmons, O'Neal and A.J. Taylor each had one hit, and Rogers had a walk and a stolen base.
