Karlie Moore hit a game-tying two-run homer for Russellville in the bottom of the sixth inning on Friday morning, and A.J.Taylor delivered a walk-off RBI single in the seventh as the Lady Golden Tigers rallied past Scottsboro for a season-saving 5-4 win at the North Regional Tournament in Huntsville.
Russellville (24-19-2) is set to face Alexandria at 3:30 this afternoon, with the winner earning a berth in the state tournament.
Scottsboro was leading Friday’s elimination game 4-1 before the Lady Golden Tigers rallied in the sixth. Autumn Logan led off with a single to left, took second on an error and scored on a double by Taylor to cut the lead to 4-2. One out later, Moore, the team’s junior shortstop, smacked her sixth home run of the season over the fence in left to tie the game.
Reliever Emma Whitfield pitched around a two-out walk and single by Scottsboro in the top of the seventh, and Russellville won it with a two-out rally in the bottom half. Alivia Clemmons singled with two outs, and Scottsboro elected to intentionally walk Logan, who was already 3-for-3 in Friday’s game and had hit a three-run homer in a 6-1 win over the Lady Wildcats on Thursday. Taylor came through in the clutch, singling to left field to bring home Clemmons with the winning run.
Whitfield (8-4) got the win, allowing one earned run on two hits in 3.2 innings. She struck out one and walked one, holding Scottsboro scoreless over the final three frames. Megan Warhurst started for Russellville and pitched the first 3.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits.
Logan finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Taylor was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, and Moore was 1-for-3 with the two-run homer. She, Logan, Clemmons and Sydney Burcham are all tied for the team lead with six home runs apiece.
