By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
Luke Bole struggled early on the mound in the first game of Hartselle’s doubleheader with area rival Muscle Shoals at Reuben Sims Field Monday.
The Tigers’ senior pitcher’s two home runs were more than enough for Hartselle as the Tigers beat the Trojans 5-2 and 13-11. He hit a pair of homers in the opening game - Hartselle’s only hits - to spark the doubleheader sweep.
Hartselle improved to 21-6 overall with the win. The Tigers have now won eight of their last nine games.
Last week, Hartselle went 6-1 in the Hoover Tournament, winning six straight before falling to the host team in the finals.
Muscle Shoals’ Dylan Munger took the loss in the first game Monday despite allowing just two hits.
The Trojans scored twice in the top of the first inning, but Hartselle tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Bole, who escaped an early jam by allowing two runs with three walks, hit a 2-run shot in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game at 2-2.
He added a three-run shot in the fifth inning to give the Tigers all the offense they needed to win the opener.
Muscle Shoals powered to a 10-2 lead in the second game with the help of three runs in the fourth inning.
But Hartselle climbed back into the game with a two-run homer from Zack Waddell and a three-run blast by Robby Reece to make it 11-9.
Mac Hendrix followed with an RBI single and Braddock Wilson drove in David Reeves and Josh Slaten with a double.
Ryan Joy added an RBI single to give the Tigers a 13-11 decision over the Trojans.
Muscle Shoals’ Jordan Green had three doubles, while Colin Bradford added a solo homer.
The teams were scheduled to meet in Muscle Shoals Tuesday.