RUSSELLVILLE, Mo. — Senior catcher Derek Shikles hit a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to rally the Wildcats to the dramatic Show-Me Conference win over the Indians on Monday night.
Russellville built an early lead with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the second, but New Bloomfield (13-7, 4-1 SMC) closed the gap by tallying three runs in the fourth. Junior left fielder Robert Manning and junior designated hitter Evan Roddy came through with RBI singles for the Wildcats, while senior starter Clay Jensen contributed an RBI groundout.
Senior shortstop Grant Nichols was safe on an error to start New Bloomfield’s seventh and moved to second when senior third baseman Tyler Fennewald followed by also reaching on an error. Shikles then pounded a 3-1 pitch over the fence in left to put the Wildcats in front to stay.
Shikles went 3-for-3 to trigger New Bloomfield’s 12-hit attack and junior right fielder Tommy Bedsworth was 2-for-3 and scored a run. Junior second baseman Zach Burton and sophomore center fielder Nick Hammann were both 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Jensen allowed four unearned runs on only four hits to log the complete-game victory, striking out three and issuing three walks.