RUSK – Andrea Torres stroked a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth inning that plated two runs to give Rusk an 18-17 win over Hudson Friday.

Red hot Rusk, winners of five-straight District 17-4A outings, improved to 9-10-3, 5-0 while Hudson now stands 9-12-1, 2-3.

The four hour affair featured a total of 32 hits on a night that included a strong north wind blowing out to right field.

Trailing 17-16 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Lady Eagles lead off the frame with a with Libby Dyess base hit to the left side.

With one out, a Zoie Goff ground out to third base advanced Dyess to second base.

Dyess quickly moved over to third on a wild pitch.

Aubrey Hassell, Rusk’s leading hitter, followed and received her sixth intentional walk of the contest.

Torres then stepped into the batter’s box and belted a double over the head of the Lady Hornet center fielder, giving Rusk the dramatic victory.

Rusk moved in front 7-3 after two innings of play after Hassell crushed a grand slam over the wall in right field and Braleigh Goff belted a two-run homer to left center later in the segment.

In seven visits to the plate, it was the only time that Hassell wasn’t issued an intentional free pass.

Hassell was named as Texas High School Softball’s Class 4A Hitter of the Week (honorable mention) for her performance at the plate last week.

Hassell, a Paris Junior College signee, went 5-8 with three doubles, wo home runs, six RBI, six runs and six runs scored.

Head coach Michael Williams’ Lady Eagles scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth to move in front 13-8.

Melanie Duke, Braleigh Goff and Andrea McCown cracked base hits in the segment.

Rusk also benefited from a walk and an infield error.

Leading hitters for the Lady Eagles, in addition to Hassell, were Braleigh Goff (2-3, HR), Duke (2-4), Torres (2-6, with a double) and Riley Collins (2-6, with a double).

Rusk batters touched up three Lady Hornet pitchers for 11 hits.

Avery Hutton led the Lady Hornets at the plate by going 4-5.

Adie Hebert went 3-5, which included a pair of doubles, while Kaisyn Schmidt had three hits, including a double, in five official trips to the plate.

Braleigh Goff pitched a complete game for the Red and Black and was the winning pitcher.

She walked five and struck out four.

Langston Arrington pitched the final two innings for Hudson and was the losing pitcher.

At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday the two squads will face off in Hudson.