Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — Landon Smith didn’t do anything extra.
Smith faced just 24 batters as he pitched a four-hitter as the Rock Hill Redmen edged the Portsmouth Trojans 2-1 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Wednesday.
“Smith pitched a heck of a ball game. The key is he didn’t walk anybody and we made the plays behind him,” said Rock Hill coach Barry Litter. “Really, both pitchers pitched well.”
Rock Hill took a 1-0 lead in the third when Seth Nichols singled, Mason Darby put down a sacrifice, Jake Blagg singled and a bad pickoff throw scored Nichols.
The Redmen (9-4, 7-4) got what proved to be the winning run in the top of the fourth.
Smith singled, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and came home when Jaret Bacorn was safe on an error.
Portsmouth got its run in the bottom of the inning.
Blake Wedebrook singled, stole second, took third on a hit by Ryan Williams and Ty Oliver hit a sacrifice fly.
Blagg and Cody Lewis each went 2-4 for the Redmen.
On Friday, Rock Hill is at Ironton and Portsmouth visits Gallipolis.
Rock Hill    001    100    0    =    2    7    0
Portsmouth    000    100    0    =    1    4    2
Landon Smith and Kaleb Kidd. Reece Johnson and Mikey Potts. W-Smith (ER-1, K-5, BB-0). L-Johnson (K-5, BB-1). Hitting-RH: Jake Blagg 2-4, Cody Lewis 2-4 3B, Landon Smith 1-3, Jaret Bacorn 1-3, Seth Nichols 1-3; Ports: Blake Wedebrook 2-3, Ryan Williams 1-3, Vincent Schwamberger 1-3.