SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The Shelbyville Central Golden Eagles (7-1) won their fifth-consecutive game to close out the week against Marshall County (2-3) in a 9-2 result on Friday.

Ashton Whorley got the start on the mound for the Golden Eagles, picking up the win after pitching 6.0 innings and giving up just two earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out nine batters on 95 pitches. Chase Billig came on in the seventh inning to close out the win, giving up just two hits while striking out one batter on 11 pitches.

For Marshall County, Aden Kirby started the game, lasting just 2.1 innings after giving up four earned runs on seven hits with just a single strikeout on 55 pitches. Gavin Bagsby came on in relief for the Tigers, pitching 3.0 innings while giving up five runs – three earned – on five hits and four walks with five strikeouts in 82 pitches.

Shelbyville Central scored two runs in the first inning and one in the second to take a three-run lead before Marshall County scored their only runs of the game in the top of the third. Austin Blackwell reached base safely before Carson Henderson delivered an RBI-single. Then, Aden Kirby drove Henderson home with another RBI-single to trim the hosts’ lead to 3-2.

The Golden Eagles would respond, scoring one in the third before plating three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a commanding 7-2 lead. Neither team scored in the fifth, then Shelbyville Central added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 9-2 advantage.

After Billig officially closed the door in the top of the seventh, the Golden Eagles secured another win before the start of district play.

At the plate for the hosts, Miles McCullough led off and went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a double, Blake Bone went 0-2 but drew two walks and was hit by a pitch, and Elijah Westbrooks finished 1-for-2 with one RBI and was hit by two pitches. Cade Davis went 1-for-5 with two RBIs, Brody Thomas finished 2-for-4, and Billig went 1-for-4. Caden Peacock batted 2-for-3 with a double and a triple to go along with a walk and an RBI. Kaleb Maillet went 1-for-3 with a walk, and Braxton Vari finished 1-for-2 while being hit by two pitches.

Shelbyville Central improves to 6-1 overall. The Golden Eagles begin District 6-AAAA play on Monday at home against Warren County.