Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — The Rock Hill Redwomen got a little help from someone not on their roster.

Playing in front of the student body during an afternoon assembly game, Rock Hill held off the South Point Lady Pointers 7-5 on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We were able to jump out to a nice lead early, but South Point continued to fight,” said Rock Hill coach Sam Gue. “We were fortunate to have our student body behind us and our girls were able to feed off of that down the stretch a little.”

Rock Hill jumped in front 2-0 in the first inning when Kaci Russell reached on an error, Jenna Lane singled and an overthrow at second base on the play allowed both runners to score.

The Redwomen went ahead 6-0 in the second.

Lily McGinnis had a leadoff double and Anna Darby doubled behind her for a run. Maddie Harper reached on an error and stole second to put runners at second and third.

Taylor Hall was safe on an error as Darby scored. Lane was safe on another error and Jill Hairston got an infield hit to load the bases. Makenzi Harrah grounded out to drive in the fourth run.

South Point began to battle back with four runs in the fourth.

Sara Allen began the inning with a double, Emilee Powell reached on an error and Haley Rawlins singled in a run. Keiana Conwell was safe on an error to load the bases and Abby Hannah cranked a double with an error on the play that cleared the bases.

Each team got a run in the sixth.

Powell singled and scored on a hit by Rawlins for the Lady Pointers’ run.

Rock Hill answered as Hall walked, Russell put down a sacrifice bunt and Lane delivered a run-scoring single.

South Point threatened in the top of the seventh with runners at first and second. Conwell got a base hit to center but centerfielder Lane caught the ball on one hop and threw home to Keating who made a nice tag to get the runner out and end the game.

“It was nice to see Jenna and Riann make the play to end the game. I’ve seen those two work on it so often and it was as credit to them as they were able to make a big-time play,” said Gue.

Hairston got the win with a six-hitter. She struck out three and walked one.

Hannah also gave up six hits in taking the loss. She fanned four and walked two.

Lane was 2-3 with an RBI for Rock Hill while Rawlins was 2-3 with two RBIs and Powell 2-4 with a double for South Point.

On Monday, Rock Hill hosts Fairland and South Point visits Portsmouth.

South Point 000 401 0 = 5 6 4

Rock Hill 240 001 x = 7 6 4

Abby Hannah and Emilee Powell. Jill Hairston and Riann Keating. W-Hairston (K-3, BB-1). L-Hannah (K-4, BB-2). Hitting-SP: Sara Allen 1-4, Emilee Powell 2-4 2B, Haley Rawlins 2-3 rbi-2, Keiana Conwell 1-4, Abby Hannah 1-3 rbi-2 2B; RH: Jenna Lane 2-3 rbi, Jill Hairston 1-4, Makenzi Harrah rbi, Lily McGinnis 2B, Anna Darby 1-3 rbi 2B, Madison Harper 1-3 2B, Taylor Hall rbi.