SOUTH POINT - Down but not out.

The South Point Pointers found themselves down 6-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning. But the Pointers remained on task as they rallied for three runs and beat the Fairland Dragons 7-6 Friday in a key Ohio Valley Conference game.

"We just stayed focused," Pointers coach Kevin Milem said. "Our younger kids showed a lot of maturity, and Dale (Kinney) came through in the clutch."

The winning rally began when Corey Smoot singled with one out. Seth Craft was safe on an outfield error that put runners at second and third base. Tyler Staton then walked to load the bases.

Kinney was next and hit a fly ball to right-center that fell for a double scoring Smoot and Craft. The relay throw short-hopped the cutoff man and skipped away momentarily. Staton continued running on the play and scored the winning run.

"That was a heads-up play by Staton," Milem said.

The rally made a winner of reliever Adam McCarty. Cory McKnight suffered the loss.

"Adam pitched in a couple of games last year and did outstanding, so I knew he could handle the pressure. He did a good job keeping them off-balance," Milem said.

Fairland snapped the scoreless tie with five runs in the third inning.

Michael Hill and McKnight walked and Greg Boster had a two-run double. Zacc Russell followed with an RBI double, Adam Fuller was hit by a pitch, Tyler Bowman walked, and an error scored a run.

South Point came back with four runs in the fourth inning to get within 5-4.

Craft was safe on an error, Staton singled, and Kinney had a two-run double. Zane Joy followed with an RBI double and McCarty delivered an RBI single.

Hill homered with one out in the sixth to put Fairland up 6-4.

"McCarty only gave up two hits, but one was Hill's home run. Hill's just a great hitter," Milem said.

Milem said the Pointers outfield played a key role in the win.

"Our outfield played just great. Justin Smith made a nice catch to save two runs and Tyler Wells had a great catch at the wall," Milem said.

South Point, 3-3 overall and 3-0 in the league, hosts Chesapeake Monday in a showdown for first place in the OVC. Fairland fell to 4-2 and 1-2.

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Cory McKnight and Adam Fuller. Seth Craft, Adam McCarty (3) and Dale Kinney. W-McCarty (1-K, 1-W). L-McKnight (5-K, 2-W). 2B-Fairland: Greg Boster, Zacc Russell; SP: Dale Kinney, Zane Joy. HR-Fairland: Mike Hill. Hitting-Fairland: Mike Hill 2-3, Greg Boster 1-3, Zacc Russell 2-4; South Point: Caleb Copley 1-4, Corey Smoot 1-4, Tyler Staton 1-3, Dale Kinney 2-4, Zane Joy 1-3, Adam McCarty 2-3, Tyler Wells 1-3.