LINDEN — Marengo Academy (25-3) took a competitive game and made it considerably less interesting when they scored six runs in the fifth inning to take a 10-0 victory over Tuscaloosa Academy Tuesday.

“I was looking for a tough game,” Marengo Academy head coach Todd Mathis said. “And we had it for a while.”

The Lady Longhorns scored three runs in the second inning and another in the fourth to take a 4-0 lead into the fifth. They threatened to blow the game open sooner when they loaded the bases in the fourth inning with no outs. In one of the few MA mistakes of the day, Jessica Brock hit a fly ball to right field that appeared to be destined to score Katie Tucker from third. The TA right fielder caught the ball and proceeded to gun down the speedy freshman at home.

“The bases loaded no score was my fault,” Mathis said of the rally-killing double-play. “They had just brought the girl in to play right field and I assumed she didn’t have a good arm. Unfortunately, the kid made a good throw and got her out.”

There was no getting out of the fifth inning for Tuscaloosa as the Lady Longhorns hit the ball early and often on the way to a Brock at-bat that resulted in an RBI to end the game.

“They’ve been getting better offensively,” Mathis said of his players. “I feel like we are going to put up five to six runs a game minimum.”

If the Lady Longhorns can put up those numbers consistently, capturing that elusive state title should be a much easier task as Brock has headed a very effective pitching staff, striking out eight and surrendering only two hits over five innings Tuesday.

“Hopefully we’ll peak at the right time this year,” Mathis said. “They seem to be doing that. They are very laid back to the point it is driving me crazy.”

The win also served as punctuation for the school’s Senior Night festivities in which the trio of Kaliegh Robison, Anna Edmonds and Shelby Mathis were honored.

“They’ve meant a lot more than people think they have,” Mathis said of the senior class, which does not boast the collegiate softball promise of previous classes but has managed to perform admirably and effectively over its tenure with the Lady Longhorns. “They do a good job emotionally with this team. They are a good group of girls that have been fun to coach and I am going to miss them.”

The Lady Longhorns are scheduled to play again May 1 when they host Kingwood for a double-header. That game will serve as the team’s final tune-up before the state tournament May 7 in Montgomery.