COAL GROVE – This was one the South Point Pointers needed.

Thursday, April 12, 2001

COAL GROVE – This was one the South Point Pointers needed.

Even though it is early in the season, the Pointers were in a tough situation Wednesday. A loss would put them two games down in the Ohio Valley Conference race and continue their losing streak.

But the Pointers got what they needed as they beat the Coal Grove Hornets 6-4 in a key Ohio Valley Conference game.

South Point is 7-3 overall and 3-1 in the OVC, good for a first place tie with Coal Grove. The Hornets are 9-3 on the season.

"This was a big win for us," Pointers coach Bob Lester said. "We had lost three in a row and I don’t know when we’ve lost three in a row. We were down. We needed a win and to win in the league is even better."

The big blows for South Point came off the bats of J. D. Sullivan and Jarred Perdue. Sullivan had a two-run homer and Perdue a three-run blast in a five-run second inning that propelled the Pointers to the win.

"This is the best offense we’ve had in the last five or six games. But we’ve had close ball games," Lester said.

Coal Grove matched South Point with seven hits, but Hornets coach John Jones said there just weren’t enough hits, especially those of the clutch variety.

"We didn’t hit. It’s that simple. We had our chances like we did (Tuesday) but didn’t get the clutch hit. We have to get those hits. If we get those hits, we win the game," said Jones.

The Hornets took a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Ryan Brown singled, stole second and went to third on an error. Tyler Waller had an infield single as Brown scored. Jarred Keaton singled, Scott Lewis hit into a force play, and Josh Keaton grounded out as a run scored.

But the Pointers stormed back in the second.

Justin Eaches singled and an out later Sullivan went the opposite way to left field for a two-run homer that tied the game. Josh Hunter reached on an error, Nick Clay singled to left, and then Perdue cranked a three-run blast to center field.

The lead went to 6-2 in the top of the fifth.

With one out, Eaches walked, stole second, and came home on a single by Sullivan.

Coal Grove answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Brown singled, Waller walked, and Jarred Keaton singled to load the bases. Lewis walked to force in a run and Eric Tackett hit into a force play as a run scored.

Jamie Douglas picked up the win as he struck out four and walked four in going the distance. Tackett suffered the loss as he struck out six and walked just one.

Sullivan was 2-for-3 with three runs batted in, Eaches was 2-for-3, and Perdue had three RBI.

Brown and Jarred Keaton went 2-for-4 to pace the Hornets.

South Point plays at Tolsia, W.Va., Thursday while Coal Grove travels to Poca, W.Va., Saturday.