Russell provides key hit for SC

Eaglette teammates rush Amber Russell (left) after her game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

Maybe it was the pre-game speech -- or maybe it was just fate.

Whatever it was, it certainly worked Tuesday night for the Shelbyville Golden Eaglette softball team.

Amber Russell's bases-loaded RBI single with no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Daryl Bell to give the Eaglettes a thrilling 2-1 District 8-AAA victory over visiting Columbia.

"We battled and battled and battled, and we came out on top," Shelbyville coach Robin Ayers said. "That says something for these girls.

"They made some errors, but they fought back and got through it. I told them this was the hardest battle I've seen and they did it…that's big for them, both individually and as a team."

Ayers also gave her mother Brenda Ayers, former Cascade softball coach, credit as well for mentally preparing her team.

"Before we played tonight, my mom went in and gave them a motivational speech," she said. "I need to get her to do that every game."

It was a story of missed opportunities, key mistakes and errors for both teams in the first five innings. Shelbyville (3-3, 2-2 8-AAA) made four errors and left three runners in scoring position in the first five frames, while the Lady Lions left two runners at third and had one thrown out at third during that span.

Errors caught up with the Eaglettes in the sixth inning as back-to-back miscues allowed Columbia to load the bases and Raven Goodman subsequently scored the game's first run.

The hosts responded right away in their half of the inning as Samantha Dye led off with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. Shelby Lamb then drove in Dye with a scorching single to center to tie the score at 1-all with no outs, but was unable to round the bases for what would have been the game-winning tally.

The Eaglettes rallied for the win in the ninth. Bell drilled a leadoff double and then reached third base safely on Abbi Foster's sacrifice bunt. After Rachel Daniel was intentionally walked to load the bases, Russell cracked the game-winner past second baseman Goodman.

Columbia's Jessica Frierson is tagged out at third base by Shelbyville's Shelby Lamb. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

"This is a gigantic win for the momentum, especially coming off the tough 3-2 loss to Lawrence County," Ayers said. "We had runners in scoring position and couldn't get them around, but to come through in this game and do it was huge."

Bell banged two doubles to pace Shelbyville at the plate. Lamb, Dye and Russell added two singles apiece for the Golden Eaglettes.

Dye struck out seven Columbia batters and walked only one en route to the complete game, nine-inning win.

The Lady Lions (2-6, 2-2) were led by Amber Clark with a double. Morgan Penrod was the losing pitcher.

Shelbyville takes the remainder of spring break off before traveling to Coffee County for another key District 8-AAA matchup on Tuesday night.