Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — Jacob Pierce was at it again.

Pierce turned in another strong outing as the Coal Grove Hornets beat the River Valley Raiders 7-1 on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Pierce pitched a five-hitter as he struck out 12 and walked just one.

“Pierce pitched well again. They only had one solid hit ball. He was pretty dominating,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.

The Hornets (4-8, 2-6) had 10 hits led by Jesse Rigsby who went 3-4 with four runs batted in. Conor Markins was 2-4 with an RBI and Pierce was 1-2 and two RBIs.

“We didn’t come out of the chute well to begin the season, but the kids are still playing hard and we’re playing better,” said Mader.

The Hornets took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Mason Nance singled, Cody Pennington walked, Rigsby had an RBI single and Pierce hit a sacrifice fly.

Coal Grove pushed the lead to 6-0 in the second inning.

Paul Richardson and Adam Bryant singled and Pennington was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Rigsby doubled to clear the bases and scored on a hit by Pierce.

After the Raiders got a run in the third, the Hornets got the run back in the fourth.

Pennington and Pierce walked, Rigsby singled and Markins had an RBI single.

River Valley 001 000 0 = 1 5 3

Coal Grove 240 100 x = 7 10 2

Joseph Loyd, Cole Bostic (2) and Trey Farley. Jacob Pierce and Jesse Rigsby. W-Pierce (K-12, BB-1, ER-0). L-Loyd (IP-1.1, K-2, BB-1, ER-6, HBP-1, H-5). Bostic IP-4.2, K-5, BB-3, H-5, ER-1. 2B-CG: Jesse Rigsby. Hitting-RV: Nick Jeffers 1-4, ColdyLee 1-3, Trey Farley 1-3, Dan Goodrich 2-2; CG: Mason Nance 1-4, Jesse Rigsby 3-4 rbi-4, Jacob Pierce 1-2 rbi-2, Conor Markins 2-4 rbi, Travis Carey 1-2, Paul Richardson 1-4, Adam Bryant 1-4.