On Monday, the Elks (6-1, 5-1) reeled off their fourth straight win when they defeated Marshall Medical Center 7-0 in five innings at Jonathan D. Hollingsworth Memorial Park to maintain sole possession of first place in the Marshall County Babe Ruth league standings.

Starting pitcher Will Johnson turned in a strong performance on the mound for the Elks and limited MMC to just two hits and two walks in five scoreless innings of work while notching six strikeouts en route to earning the win.

Elks' help

The Elks finished with only four hits in the contest, but were aided by five walks and three Marshall Medical Center errors.

J.D. Crabtree tallied a double and a RBI to account for the Elks' lone extra base hit of the contest, while Ben Taylor (1 RBI), catcher Derrick McKnight (1 RBI), and Wilson Limbaugh all singled.

MMC starting hurler Trent Richardson suffered the loss on the mound, allowing seven runs over two innings on four hits and five walks. Jacob Harris then came on in relief of Richardson and yielded no hits in two scoreless innings of work. Richardson and Nathan Derryberry doubled and singled respectively to lead Marshall Medical Center (3-4, 2-4) at the plate.

Wilson worked around a one-out double by Richardson in the top of the first inning before the Elks pushed across four runs in the bottom half of the frame to seize a 4-0 lead. After Crabtree and Taylor both drew walks, Johnson was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Following a RBI infield single by McKnight, Austin Wood drew another walk to give the Elks a 2-0 lead. Johnson and McKnight then both scored on a fielder's choice by Jay Lyons thanks to some aggressive base running.

MMC threat

MMC had a chance to cut into the deficit in the top of the second when they put runners on first and third with two outs with the help of an error, two stolen bases by Nate Huitt, and a Jackson Coward walk, but McKnight threw Coward out at second on a stolen base attempt to extinguish the threat.

In the bottom of the second, the Elks continued to distance themselves from Marshall Medical Center and crossed home plate three more times in the frame on the strength of a single by Limbaugh, a Crabtree RBI double, a RBI infield single by Taylor, an error, a passed ball, and a wild pitch to open up a 7-0 advantage.

Johnson then thwarted another MMC scoring opportunity in the top of the third with the aid of a 1-6-3 double play before retiring Marshall Medical Center in order in each of the next two frames to keep the mercy rule in effect.