Bats help New Bloomfield blow by Russellville

The Wildcats cranked out 15 hits in rolling to a 13-4 Show-Me Conference rout of the Indians on Monday night.

New Bloomfield (9-7, 2-3 SMC) scored at least two runs in each of the first four innings to win its fifth straight game and ninth in its last 10.

After Russellville bolted to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, the Wildcats countered with four runs in the bottom of the inning.

Senior center fielder Tucker Lane opened New Bloomfield's scoring with a one-out triple to center, driving in senior left fielder Sam Niedergerke. Junior catcher Derek Shikles singled home Lane in the next at-bat, while senior third baseman Brady Wiler's single scored junior pitcher Tyler Fennewald with one out to square the game at 3-all.

Junior second baseman Clay Jensen's one-out sacrifice fly plated Shikles to hand the Wildcats a lead they would never relinquish.

New Bloomfield added two runs in both the second and third innings. The Indians scored a run in the top of the fourth, but the Wildcats broke out for five runs in their half of the inning.

Fennewald struck out seven in the complete-game victory. He gave up three earned runs on eight hits and walked two.

Lane was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored for New Bloomfield, which featured six multi-hit players. Senior first baseman Boyd Kempker finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, a triple and scored once, while Shikles and sophomore right fielder Zach Burton were both 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Wiler went 2-for-4 and scored twice, and junior shortstop Grant Nichols was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

The Wildcats play a Show-Me Conference game at South Callaway at 5 p.m. Friday.