HRs rally Redmen past Panthers, 13-11

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, April 10, 2001

PEDRO – Just when it looked like things were over for the Rock Hill Redmen, something big happened.

Tuesday, April 10, 2001

PEDRO – Just when it looked like things were over for the Rock Hill Redmen, something big happened.

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Twice.

Down 11-8 with one out in the seventh inning, Rock Hill used a pair of home runs to rally past the Chesapeake Panthers 13-11 Monday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

"The kids have a lot of heart. They’re a scrappy group. We got down five and then just got two here, one there, and in the last inning we got two clutch hits," Redmen coach Barry Litteral said.

With one out, Matt Coffee singled, Nathan Litteral walked, and Jeff Crabtree crunched a three-run homer. Kyle Lewis then walked and David Martin belted a two-run homer.

Rock Hill collected 13 hits with Crabtree going 3-for-4 with five runs batted in. Coffee was 3-for-5, Nathan Litteral 2-for-3, and Martin 2-for-4.

Chesapeake had 11 hits with Josh Waugh going 2-for-2 with a home run, four RBI, three walks, and three stolen bases. Zeb Best went 2-for-3, Joe Macri 2-for-4, and Todd Oberly 2-for-5.

"We swung the bats pretty decent today. We’re starting to hit. But pitching wasn’t the strong suit today for either team," Panthers coach Joe Waugh said.

Chesapeake jumped ahead 5-0 in the first.

Macri singled, Oberly reached on an error, and Josh Waugh had a two-run single. Waugh stole second and third and scored on a hit by Best. Abe Huff was hit by a pitch and came home on an error.

Rock Hill scored twice in the second inning.

Malone was hit by a pitch, moved up on a passed ball, took third when Matt Barnard reached on an error, and both scored on a hit by Coffee.

The Redmen got within 5-4 in the top of the third when Martin and Malone walked, moved up on a passed ball, and scored on a hit by Sam Lewis.

Chesapeake got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Best hit a leadoff home run.

Rock Hill tied the game with a pair of runs in the fourth.

Nathan Litteral walked, stole second, and came home on a double by Crabtree. Kyle Lewis then doubled home Crabtree.

But Chesapeake got the two runs back in the bottom of the inning when Oberly singled and Josh Waugh slammed a two-run homer.

The lead went to 9-6 in the fifth when Matt Rucker and Macri walked and Oberly singled.

Each team scored twice in the sixth.

Nathan Litteral was safe on a dropped fly ball, went to second on a passed ball, and scored on Crabtree’s second double. Martin then singled home Crabtree.

Chesapeake answered when Huff singled, moved up when Todd Marcum was safe on an error, and Rucker and Macri each had RBI singles.

But then came the five-run rally by the Redmen.

Barnard worked the last 2.1 innings to get the win.

"Matt Barnard came in with bases loaded and got a force out. He really shut the door," coach Litteral said.

Chesapeake, 2-4 and 1-3 in the OVC, hosts Lucasville Valley Tuesday. Rock Hill hosts St. Joe Tuesday and visits Fairland Wednesday.

Rock Hill 022 202 5 – 13 13 3

Chesapeake 501 212 0 – 11 11 2

Jeff Crabtree, Matt Barnard (6) and David Martin. Phillip Butcher, Ernest Bonecutter (4), Todd Oberly (7) and Todd Oberly, Justin Finley (7). W-Barnard. L-Bonecutter. 2B-Rock Hill: Jeff Crabtree 2, Kyle Lewis. HR-Rock Hill: David Martin, Jeff Crabtree; Chesapeake: Josh Waugh, Zeb Best. Hitting-Rock Hill: Matt Coffee 3-5, Nathan Litteral 2-3, Jeff Crabtree 3-4 (5 RBI), Kyle Lewis 1-4, David Martin 2-4, David Malone 1-1, Derek Malone 1-5; Chesapeake: Joey Macri 2-4, Todd Oberly 2-5, Josh Waugh 2-2 (4 RBI, 3-W, 3-SB), Zeb Best 2-3, Abe Huff 1-4, Todd Marcum 1-5, Matt Rucker 1-2.