LINDEN &045; Marengo Academy utilized dominate pitching and hot bats to beat Shelby Academy 15-0 Thursday at Scott Park to move to 12-4 on the season.

Michelle Pritchett set the tone in the circle, striking out six batters and surrendering no hits over three innings of work. She teamed with Brittany Black, who struck out one in her only inning of work, to hold Shelby hitless in the contest.

Pritchett’s performance was complemented flawlessly by a 15-run outburst on the offensive side, ending the game after four innings.

Pritchett helped her own cause at the plate, managing three singles and scoring two runs in the game. Stokes had two hits, including one double, and scored two runs. Black dropped in two hits, including a double, one RBI and three runs. Amber Walker’s two hits included a monster homerun that caromed off a tree beyond the fence in center field, accounting for two of her three RBIs and one of her three runs in the game. Chelsea Etheridge racked up a double, one RBI and scored a run while Abbey Huckabee came up with a single, an RBI and a run. Anna Edmonds helped herself to two doubles and two runs while Amber Barkley had a hit and an RBI. Kaleigh Robison also ripped a single in the game.

However, despite the double-digit run production, the Horns seem unsatisfied with their level of play.

Mathis echoed that sentiment, denoting inconsistencies in his team’s game.

The girls have fared well against highly-regarded teams this year, with three of their four losses coming at the hands of Tuscaloosa Academy. As they move toward postseason play, they will strive to improve upon the aspects of the game that have given them problems.

Mathis feels that once his team gets beyond its mental obstacles, it will be capable of contending for a state championship.

His squad will travel to Montgomery Monday to play a Top 5 team, Macon-East Montgomery Academy, in a game that should provide another indicator as to how close it is to ascending to the next level.