ASHLAND, Ky. — No one wants to lose, but it was a gain for the Coal Grove Hornets.

Despite a 3-1 loss to the Ashland (Ky.) Tomcats Tuesday, the Hornets took a step forward.

“We played pretty sound. We’re getting better. I want to see us battle and we’re doing that,” said Hornets coach John Jones. “We had some guys on base, we just didn’t get timely hits.”

Freshman Wayne Sparks took the tough loss. He struck out five, walked three and only one run was earned. Ashland had just four hits.

“Wayne pitched well. He had a one-hitter until the sixth inning,” said Jones.

An error, a sacrifice fly, a walk and a wild pitch scored the first Ashland run.

In the sixth inning, Ashland used three hits and two errors to score twice and take a 3-0 lead.

Coal Grove got its only run in the seventh inning.

Alex Johnson doubled, went to third base on a ground out and came home on a missed third strike that rolled to the backstop.

Coal Grove (2-6) hosts Fairland Wednesday. Ashland is now 3-3.

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Wayne Sparks and Taylor Dean. Caleb Rigsby (5-K, 0-BB), Chase Adkins (6) and Duvall. W-Rigsby (5-K, 3-BB, 1-ER). L-Sparks (9-K, 3-BB, 1-ER). 2B-Coal Grove: Taylor Dean, Alex Johnson. Hitting-Coal Grove: Oakie Haynes 1-3, Taylor Dean 1-3, Alex Johnson 1-3, Shanon Goodwin 1-3, Wayne Sparks 1-3; Ashland: Nick Jackson 1-3, Justin Slone 1-2, Josh Miller 1-2, Robbie Wilcox 1-2.