Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — One bad apple did spoil the whole bunch for the Coal Grove Hornets.

Trailing 4-1, the South Point Pointers scored eight runs in the fourth inning — five unearned — and went on to beat the Hornets 13-4 on Monday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We had one bad inning,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader. “We hit the ball pretty well, we just made too many errors.”

The Pointers (2-2, 1-2) got a run in the first when Brandon Boggs reached on an error, stole second and scored on a double by Josh Browning.

Coal Grove (0-5, 0-4) took the lead with three runs in the second.

Jesse Rigsby double, Travis Carey and Isaiah Gunther walked and Mason Nance had a two-run single. Gunther scored on an error.

The Hornets added a run in the third when Conor Markins reached on an error, stole second and scored on a hit by Jacob Pierce.

But then came the fourth inning.

Boggs doubled and Browning singled to make it 4-2. Browning stole second and Chris Woodard singled him home.

Trey Kearns reached on an error and after an out Austin Majher singled. Brandon Layne reached on another error and Boggs was safe on an error. Woodard singled with two outs to cap the rally.

South Point used a walk and two errors to score two more runs in the sixth.

The final two runs scored in the seventh. Layne was hit by a pitch, moved up on a wild pitch and Alex Whitt singled for a run. Browning doubled home the final run.

Whitt worked the final five innings for the win. He struck out three, walked one and gave up three hits and no runs.

Boggs was 2-4, Majher 2-3 and Browning and Woodard 2-5 to pace the Pointers’ 11-hit attack.

Nance was 2-4 to lead the Hornets.

South Point 100 802 2 = 13 11 2

Coal Grove 031 000 0 = 4 6 7

Brandon Boggs, Alex Whitt (3) and Chris Woodard, Austin Majher (3). Jesse Rigsby, Conor Markins (5) and Jacob Pierce. W-Whitt (K-3, BB-1, H-3). Boggs IP-2, K-2, BB-2, H-3. L-Rigsby (K-1, BB-1, H-7). Markins K-4, BB-1, H-4. 2B-SP: Brandon Boggs, Josh Browning; CG: Jesse Rigsby. Hitting-SP: Brandon Boggs 2-4 rbi, Jesse Lien 1-4, Chris Woodard 2-5 rbi-2, Alex Whitt 1-4 rbi, Josh Browning 2-5 rbi-2, Trey Kearns rbi, Warren Price rbi, Luke Kelley 1-1, Austin Majher 2-3 rbi; CG: Mason Nance 2-4 rbi, Cody Pennington 1-4 rbi, Conor Markins 1-3, Jacob Pierce 1-3, Jesse Rigsby 1-3.