Rutherford pours on rout to Godby (See Photos)

SPRINGFIELD — The rain stopped early Friday morning but Rutherford’s softball team kept it pouring under the stars against Tallahassee Godby.

For the third consecutive game this week, the Lady Rams’ offense kicked into gear and lit up the scoreboard.

After a 12-2 win over Bay on Monday and a 5-0 win over Port St. Joe on Wednesday, Rutherford needed one inning to get warmed up. The Lady Rams then spent the next four putting together an 11-1 rule-run win over Godby in five innings in a District 2-4A game at the Vera Shamplain Sports Complex.

“The last three games we figured it out,” Rutherford coach David Barron said. “We won on the run rule two of the last three games. It’s huge for our confidence.”

Becca Taylor led Rutherford, going 3 for 4 with a triple and two singles. Amanda Moses was 2 for 2 with two singles and Brittany Burkett hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, part of a 2 for 3 night.

Rutherford (4-3, 1-1) took a 3-0 lead after two innings when Amanda Moses scored from third on a passed ball, Keietta Searles came home when Paige Williamson hit into a fielder’s choice and Gina Mathes drove in Chelsey Childers on a sacrifice fly.

Godby (3-8, 0-2) scored its lone run in the top of the third inning. Jessica Rentz singled and advanced to second when Katie Dickey grounded out to Rutherford pitcher Mathes. After Brandy Scott struck out, Lanie Zimmerman reached first on an error by Burkett, who overthrew Childers at first base. The error allowed Rentz to scramble to third and eventually home.

Barron said Mathes, who allowed just one hit in the last 12 batters she faced, missed just one spot all night.

During the next three innings, the Lady Rams posted eight runs on eight hits.

Taylor kicked off the bottom of the third with a triple and scored on an error by Godby shortstop Scott, whose relay throw to third sailed high. Two more Godby errors in the inning led to Skylar Taggart reaching third after hitting a single. She scored on an RBI ground out by Childers.

An inning later, Burkett homered to straight away center field to start the fourth and a single by Amanda Moses scored Jessica Thornton from second to give Rutherford a 7-1 lead.

The Lady Rams capped an important district win with four runs in the final inning. With just Wakulla joining Rutherford and Godby in District 2-4A, claiming the top seed for the district tournament comes with an automatic bid to the regional tournament.

Thornton drove in Williamson for the inning’s first run, followed by Mathes, who scored on a single up the middle by Taylor. A single in between Godby’s third baseman and shortstop by Taggart drove in Thornton and Taylor for the game’s winning runs.

“We got outstanding pitching and timely hitting,” Barron said. “We had key line drives and key ground balls.