MONTICELLO-The Lawrence County Cougars defeated the LaurelTornadoes 10-0 in high school baseball action Tuesday night, atJimmie Davis Park.

The Cougars erupted for 9 runs in the first 2 innings, en routeto their eighth straight win. It was Lawrence County’s thirdstraight win that lasted just 4 and 1/2 innings, as the game ended,via the 10-run rule, after the top of the fourth.

Cory Keyes’ Cougars improved to 14-3 on the season, whileLaurel, coached by Luke Leggett, fell to 6-8.

“We’re playing pretty well right now,” Keyes said, “but you’reonly as good as your next game, so we’ve got to keep working toimprove. We’ll be starting over in a few weeks, but these seniorshave given us 3 or 4 great years, and I’m proud that they’re havinga good senior season.”

Tuesday’s gave was never in doubt, at least not after theCougars plated 5 in the bottom of the first. Joseph Evans andZachary Summers started the game with singles, and Trent Hartzogloaded the bases with a walk. Two outs later, Laurel’s Cory Francewas close to escaping with just a 1-0 deficit. BrandonMiddlebrook’s erred ground ball made it 3-0, however, and CoreyJones and Dominique West followed with 2-out singles.

With 1 out in the second, Summers singled again, and Hartzogfollowed with another base on balls. Mackenzie Woods plated bothwith a double to right-center, and Nick Jackson followed with asingle. Woods and Jackson eventually scored on wild pitches. Beforemost fans were settled into their seats, the Cougars led 9-0.

Meanwhile, Lawrence County starter Joseph Evans, who improved to6-0, was having a pretty easy time of it. In 4 innings of work, heallowed 3 singles, walked 1, hit 1 batter, and struck out 6.

After the Cougars went quietly in the bottom of the third, theyadded a single run in the fourth, giving them the 10-run lead. Thatrun came courtesy of 2 Tornado errors. Hartzog, after his thirdstraight walk, scored the tenth run when Woods’ fly ball wasdropped in left-center.

Woods pitched the fifth inning. He gave up only a base on balls,and struck out 2.

Sam Sanderson led Laurel with 2 hits. Evans and Summers each had2 hits for Lawrence County.

Lawrence County will travel to Oak Grove on Friday.