Greenwood celebrates a run scored by Stephen Bratcher (second from left) on an RBI by Chris Hardin on Thursday Apr. 12, 2012 during the game against Adair County at Greenwood High School in Bowling Green, Ky. (Photo by Pete Rodman/Daily News)

The Greenwood Gators’ pitching and defense have been solid all season.

Finally, the bats are catching up.

Greenwood (6-9) scored four runs in the first inning Thursday against Adair County, and junior pitcher Dexter Cline tossed a scoreless gem for a 5-0 win at GHS.

“We’ve been working on hitting constantly, and it seems like it’s finally starting to pull through,” junior catcher Kent Smith said. “I feel good about how it’s going right now.”

In their first 11 games, the Gators scored a combined 14 runs. They didn’t score more than three runs in a game during that span and were shut out three times.

But Greenwood broke out Saturday with two wins, beating Mayfield 10-0 in six innings and Livingston Central 27-0 in five innings.

“Most of the year, we’ve hit the ball hard,” Greenwood coach Jason Jaggers said. “Recently, they’ve been finding some holes. The guys have been positive through the ups and downs. I credit them because even though we’re 6-9, you’d think we’re 9-6 with the way our boys carry themselves.”

The Gators didn’t waste any time Thursday, building an early lead with four hits in the first inning.

Junior Chris Hardin drove in junior Stephen Bratcher with an RBI single, and Smith plated Hardin with a double.

Smith and junior Trevor Brewer later scored when senior Cody Spalding reached on an error.

“We’ve played a really tough schedule, but we’ve tried to keep a really positive environment,” Smith said. “We keep each other up, and that helps.”

That was all the offense Greenwood needed with Cline on cruise control.

The left-hander gave up one hit in a complete-game effort, striking out seven batters and walking three.

Cline has now pitched 19 straight scoreless innings, dating back three starts to the second inning against South Warren on April 3.

“He’s what we call a bulldog,” Jaggers said. “He’s a hard worker through the season and offseason, and it’s paying dividends now.”

The Gators added their final run with an RBI double by Spalding in the bottom of the third.

Adair County (11-5), which beat Warren East 8-1 earlier in the day at GHS, had multiple runners on base once – in the sixth inning.

Cline shut down that threat with a strikeout of ACHS pinch hitter Cody Yates.

“We finally started finding some holes tonight and got some runs on the board,” Cline said. “I always feel good about the defense behind me, which helps because they’re always getting it done.”

Greenwood returns to action at 7:30 p.m. today at home against Butler County.

ACHS 000 000 0 – 0

GHS 401 000 x – 5