By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE – Riverside continued its strong start with a pair of victories this week, toppling Chapelle, 8-1, on Tuesday and defeating Belle Chasse, 9-4, on Thursday.

Belle Chasse (3-2) erased a 4-0 Rebel lead to tie things up in the fifth inning. But the Rebels responded immediately, scoring five runs in the bottom half of the inning to put the Cardinals away.

“Our bats came alive,” said Riverside coach Kristy Hebert. “We left people on base in the first few innings. Going into the fifth, we just stressed that we had to show up at the plate. The top of the order came up and we put five runs up. They just really stepped up with the bats.”

Destin Vicknair went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a pair of doubles. Kelsi Roussel went 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Chelsie Stein picked up the win, pitching five innings and allowing four runs on seven hits. She struck out six. Vicknair pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh.

“We want to use both of them,” said Hebert. “Fortunately we were able to go to Destin to close this one out after they got their bats going in the fifth.

“Hopefully we can continue that, having each help out the other.”

Chapelle (1-4) scored its lone run Tuesday in the top of the first inning, but Riverside scored a run each in the second, third and fifth innings and broke loose with five in the seventh to close the game out.

Kori Bourgeois led Riverside at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. Shea LaFountain and Megan Stein each went 2-for-4.

Vicknair earned the complete game victory, allowing three hits and an earned run while striking out five.

“We played solid defensively with the ball in play. We made one error and that was it,” said Hebert. “Once again, we left a number of runners on but came back in the seventh and scored five runs.”

The Rebels have scored eight or more runs in four of the team’s seven games, a trend Hebert would like to see continue.

“We’re happy with our pitching and our defense. We feel like that will hold up for us,” she said. “If our bats can keep going, we’ll be in good shape.”