PEDRO - The Fairland Dragons wrapped up an OVC championship, but it didn't come without a fight.

The Dragons fell behind by seven runs early, then rallied for a 17-9 win over the Rock Hill Redmen as they earned at least a share of the Ohio Valley Conference baseball title.

"That keeps us with at least a tie," Fairland coach Roger Snyder said. "Considering where we were after the first four games, I'm happy where we're at. I appreciate the way the kids hung in there.

"A lot of teams would have quit tonight or before tonight. That shows something about their character."

Fairland is 14-3 overall and finishes 8-2 in the league, earning its third straight OVC championship. Chesapeake needs a win over Rock Hill Thursday to share the title. A Chesapeake loss would give Fairland the title outright.

Rock Hill made the Dragons work for their share of the title as the Redmen built an 8-1 lead after three innings.

"They always hit us better than anyone else. They came out swinging and took a lead on us. But we battled back to our kids' credit,"

Snyder said.

Rock Hill jumped in front 5-0 in the first inning.

T.J. Blagg homered leading off the inning. Aaron Miller singled, Justin Lavender was safe on an error, Chris Howard and Matt Wilson walked to force in a run and Micah Settle doubled to empty the bases.

Fairland got a run in the top of the second when Adam Fuller singled, stole second and scored as Bo Adams reached on an error.

Rock Hill got two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Miller and K.C. Christian walked with one out. Lavender singled and an outfield error scored both runners.

The lead went to 8-1 in the third after Blagg was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on Miller's base hit.

Fairland began its comeback with a run in the fourth inning as Matt Clark doubled and Bo Adams singled.

The Dragons erupted for eight runs in the fifth inning to take a 10-8 lead.

Nolan Love singled, Michael Hill was safe on a fielder's choice, Cory McKnight singled and Greg Boster unloaded a three-run homer.

Clark and Fuller walked and Adams singled for a run. A throwing error scored Fuller, Tyler Bowman walked and Nolan Love beat out an infield hit to load the bases.

Hill followed with a triple to score all three runners.

Fairland followed with three more runs in the sixth inning.

Zacc Russell singled and pinch-runner Ryan Fields moved up when Clark was safe on an error. Fuller hit into a fielder's choice, but Adams doubled in a run. Bowman followed with a two-run double.

Rock Hill got a run back in the bottom of the inning. Lavender walked, Howard singled and a throwing error scored Lavender.

Fairland put the game out of reach with four runs in the seventh inning.

Hill singled, McKnight walked and Russell was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Matt Clark hit a sacrifice fly and then Fuller and Adams each singled in a run. Fuller came home when Bowman doubled.

Fairland0101834-17164

Rock Hill5210010-975

Michael Hill, Matt Clark (7) and Adam Fuller. Aaron Miller, Nathan Wagner (5), Michael Williams (7) and T.J. Blagg. W-Hill (13-K, 7-W). L-Miller. 2B-Fairland: Matt Clark, Bo Adams, Tyler Bowman 2: Rock Hill: Micah Settle. 3B-Fairland: Michael Hill. HR-Fairland: Greg Boster; Rock Hill: T.J. Blagg. Hitting-Fairland: Michael Hill 2-4 (4 rbi), Cory McKnight 1-3, Greg Boster 1-5 (3 rbi), Zacc Russell 1-4, Matt Clark 1-4, Adam Fuller 2-4, Bo Adams 4-5, Tyler Bowman 2-3, Nolan Love 2-4; Rock Hill: T.J. Blagg 1-3, Aaron Miller 2-4, Justin Lavender 1-3, Nathan Wagner 2-3,

Micah Settle 1-3.