CHESAPEAKE - Key hits were the key for the Chesapeake Panthers.

Although the Panthers had just eight hits, they came at the right time as they beat the River Valley Raiders 8-2 Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

"We didn't have a lot of hits, but their pitcher got a little wild and we got the key hits. We moved the runner around and then we were able to get them home," Panthers coach Joe Waugh.

While the River Valley pitchers struggled at times, Chesapeake's Kersten Harris was enjoying a successful outing. Harris struck out eight and walked four while allowing only four hits.

"Kersten threw pretty good. He had reasonably good control. I think he got a little tired at the end, but other than that he threw pretty well," Waugh said.

Matt Whitmore went 2-for-3 to lead the Chesapeake offense.

The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jeff Gilkison singled, stole second and scored on a hit by Whitmore.

The lead went to 2-0 in the third inning.

P.J. Rase walked to lead off the inning, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and came on to score thanks

to a passed ball.

Chesapeake blew the game open with six runs in the fourth inning.

Keith Marcum was hit by a pitch leading off. He stole second and took third on a hit by Harris. After Harris stole second, Zach Henderson was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Rase singled in the first run, Cory Methax singled to drive in Harris, Gilkison walked to load the bases again, and Cody Methax had a two-run single. Gilkison later scored on a passed ball.

River Valley scored single runs in the fifth and seventh innings.

Chesapeake improved to 11-7 overall and 5-4 in the OVC. The Panthers play at 7 p.m. Monday at Rock Hill in a league makeup game.

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H.L. Pugh, Smith (4) and Eric Caldwell. Kersten Harris and Matt Rowe, Bryan Huff (5). W-Harris (8-K, 4-BB). L-Pugh. Hitting-River Valley: Randall Sharrett 1-4, Smith 1-3, Troy Gaus 2-3; Chesapeake: P.J. Rase 1-2, Cory Methax 1-3, Jeff Gilkison 1-3, Cody Methax 1-2, Matt Whitmore 2-3, Brad Eldred 1-1, Kersten Harris 1-3.