MONROE, La. — Ruston High snapped a losing skid Thursday night with a 7-3 win over District 2-5A foe Neville, thanks in large part to a big start in the top of the first inning and solid pitching from senior Rilee Atwood.
“Tonight was a good night for us and it was needed,” Ruston High head coach Lauren Garvie said. “Rilee Atwood was outstanding in the circle; she worked hard and has been working hard. As a whole, though, we did our jobs. Our infield played well and earned outs, our outfield tracked balls and made throws. We took on a new energy tonight, our true energy. I think they’ve gone through a lot these past couple of weeks and tonight they played together and showed some grit – I think that’s embodied when (freshman Aubrey) Stoehr gets taken out by a runner and the first thing she says to me is “I’m not coming out of this game!” They want to play hard and our coaching staff is incredibly proud of how that showed up tonight.”
After both Stoehr and Atwood singled to start the game, junior Sage Tolar took a 3-1 pitch for a walk to load the bases with no outs. With senior Morgan Foster up at bat, Stoehr would score on a passed ball, which saw both Atwood and Tolar advancing bases. Foster then hit a line drive into left field and reached on an error, scoring both base runners and putting Ruston up 3-0.
Senior Abby Holton then tripled into right field to score Foster from second base, which was followed by freshman Za’Meriah Jones singling to bring Holton home for a 5-0 lead going into the bottom of the first.
Neville would respond with a run in the stanza — cutting Ruston’s lead to 5-1. After three scoreless innings, Neville would plate a runner in both the fifth and sixth inning to put the score at 5-3 with Ruston ahead.
The Lady Bearcats would answer with two more runs in the top of the seventh — first after Holton grounded into a fielder’s choice that led to a run scored by Foster. Tolar would then score on a wild pitch in the next at-bat, putting the score at the 7-3 final.
Both Stoehr and Holton registered triples on the night.
Atwood pitched all seven innings in the circle for Ruston and struck out one Lady Tiger at the plate.
Following the win, Ruston’s squad received word about sophomore John Parker Moak’s injury in the Ruston High baseball game and rallied together to pray for him and his family.
“As Bearcats though, these girls celebrated a win and then immediately prayed over JP Moak and we could not be more grateful to see that young man be okay – Bearcats forever,” Garvie said.
Ruston will return to action Tuesday, April 8, at home against Ouachita.
