Playing their final game of the regular season on the home field on May 14, the Rushville-Industry High School softball team came out swinging against visiting Macomb.
After Macomb scored a run in the top of the first, the Rockets offense roared to life, scoring 11 runs in the bottom of the inning.
RIHS added six runs in the second and coasted home with a 17-1 four-inning victory.
The Rockets improved to 15-6 on the season, while MHS slipped to 3-19, suffering their 11th straight loss.
The Bombers scored in the top of the first, taking advantage of a hit batter and two walks to load the bases with one out.
Lilyan Schmalshof grounded out to second, scoring Brooklyn Lyles with the game’s first run.
The Rockets responded by sending 15 batters to the plate, scoring 11 runs.
Italee Ford and Joaney Flowers hit two-run homers as the first six batters reached base.
Devin Vogler and Ford added run-scoring singles, while Lainy Greer added a two-run single during the frame.
RIHS followed in the second inning by sending 10 batters to the plate, scoring six runs.
The inning included run-scoring singles by Devin Vogler and Gabby Sorrell, an RBI double by __._______.__.____.__ Continued from page 18
Bombers
Flowers and a sacrifice fly by Ford.
MHS finished with one hit, a one-out single to center by Lyles in the top of the third.
Josie Elbe started, facing five batters. She allowed five runs, four earned, on three hits with one walk.
Kinley Sloan pitched three innings, allowing 12 runs, seven earned, on eight hits. She struck out three, walked four and hit a batter.
Flowers pitched four innings, allowing one earned run on one hit. She struck out six, walked two and hit a batter.
Offensively, Flowers doubled and homered, knocking in three runs. Ford also had two hits, including a homer, knocking in four runs.
Vogler had two hits and two RBIs, while Greer also knocked in two runs.
The Bombers were scheduled to begin IHSA Class 2 A Regional play Monday, heading to Farmington for an opening round contest against the host Farmers (10-13).
The No. 7 seeded Farmers defeated the No. 9 seeded Bombers 12-1 in six innings back on Apr. 29 in Farmington.
Monday’s winner was scheduled to face top-seeded Stanford Olympia (26-8) in a Tuesday semifinal at Farmington.
Wednesday’s semifinal has No. 4 seed Peoria Notre Dame (17-15) set to face No. 5 seed Canton (18-12).
The semifinal winners will play for the regional title at Farmington on May 22.
