By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Jessica Price’s bases-loaded, two-RBI double in the second inning helped Riverside break its game with visiting Lutcher wide open on Tuesday, as the Rebels went on to take a 10-3 win over the Bulldogs.

After scoring only one run in a loss to Ascension Catholic in the Lady Rebels; season opener, Riverside Coach Mickey Roussel said that his team worked to restore its hitting to its expectations.

“We spent a little extra time working the batting cage,” said Roussel. “We feel like our lineup is good enough to produce in every game.”

On Tuesday, the Rebels (1-1) left little doubt of that. After falling behind 1-0 after a Lutcher first inning score on an unearned run.

“After that, you almost say ‘here we go again’,” said Roussel. “But this is an experienced group, and they took advantage of that in the second inning.”

That’s where Riverside answered with five runs to take a lead that the Rebels would not relinquish.

“That’s what experienced, good teams do,” Roussel said.

After Lutcher (1-4) added a run in the top of the fourth, the Rebels scored two more in the bottom half to go ahead 7-1.

Riverside would score three more in the bottom of the sixth to round out its scoring.    

    Taylor Vicknair hit a home run and had two RBIs. Heidi Garcich doubled and tripled on her way to two RBIs. Brittany Schoen collected two hits and two RBIs of her own.

    Garcich (1-0) followed a strong relief effort in the season opener by pitching a complete game two-hitter. All three Lutcher runs were unearned. She walked five in the effort.

    “If there was one negative, that was it. She was a little wild,” said Roussel of the walks. “But for what she did over the course of the game, you’ll take that every day.”

    All in all, the Rebels feel a lot better after their second effort of the season than the first.

    “We were sluggish in that first game. We knew we were better offensively than that,” said Roussel. “Our hitting was much better this time, and our pitching and defense was very good.”