Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — This was one of those games that kept everyone on the edge of their seats until the final out.

The Chesapeake Panthers got two clutch runs late in the game and then held on in the seventh to edge the Coal Grove Hornets 5-4 Wednesday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

The game was tied 3-3 after four innings when the Panthers pushed across two runs in the fifth.

Blake Lester singled, Joe Bias walked and Dakota Hutchison singled in a run. Jacob Henson hit a sacrifice fly to score Bias.

Coal Grove (7-5, 4-3) got a run back in the sixth on an RBI double by Chase McKnight.

Bias went five innings to get the win. He struck out nine, walked three and gave up two hits. He allowed three runs, all unearned.

Lester got the final two outs to record the save. With runners at first and third, he picked off the runner at first base and struck out the next batter for the final out.

Five Chesapeake pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts.

Conor Markins pitched well in defeat. He struck out three, did not walk a batter, gave up just six hits and three earned runs.

Bias was 2-2 with two RBIs for the Panthers (6-9, 3-3) who avenged an earlier 14-3 loss to the Hornets.

Coal Grove 030 001 0 = 4 3 2

Chesapeake 102 020 x = 5 6 4

Conor Markins and Jacob Clark. Joe Bias, Casey McComas (6), Dakota Hutchison (6), Alex Miller (7), Blake Lester (7) and Blake Ashworth. W-Bias (IP-5, K-9, BB-3, H-2, R-3, ER-0). Save-Lester (IP-0.2, K-1). L-Markins (K-3, BB-1, ER-3). Hitting-CG: Daniel Rutherford 1-2, Chase McKnight 1-3 rbi, Jacob Clark 1-3 rbi, Mason Nance rbi; Chesapeake: Casey McComas 1-3, Blake Lester 1-3, Joe Bias 2-2 rbi-2, Dakota Hutchison 1-3, Jacob Henson rbi, Kobe McWhorter 1-3. 2B-CG: Chase McKnight.