ASHLAND, Ky. — When the Coal Grove Hornets failed to do the little things, they didn’t get the biggest thing they wanted: a win.

Fielding errors and mental mistakes were too much to overcome as the Hornets lost 9-5 Tuesday to the Ashland Tomcats.

“We didn’t hit cut-off men and we threw to the wrong base and we made a few errors. We did things we know how to do, but we just didn’t do them,” said Hornets coach John Jones.

Despite the loss, Taylor Dean went 2-for-3 with four runs batted in for the Hornets.

Each team scored twice in the first inning.

Jake Murphy walked, Johnson singled and Dean had a two-run double as Coal Grove took a 2-0 lead to start the game.

After Ashland tied the game, the Hornets came back to take a 4-2 lead in the third inning.

Zack Murphy reached on an error, Jake Murphy walked, and, after a double steal, Dean singled in both runners.

“(Dean’s) becoming a tough out right now,” said Jones.

Ashland (5-1) got five runs in the fifth to take a 7-4 lead.

Sam Hunter was safe on an error, Matt Miller walked, and Justin Slone doubled for two runs.

Slone took third base on a throw home and Caleb Rigsby hit a sacrifice fly.

Alex Bonnette and Trey Keaton singled and a missed cut-off put both runners in scoring position. Chris Duvall then delivered a two-run single.

Coal Grove came back to get a run in the top of the sixth when Wayne Sparks walked, Allen singled, Zack Murphy walked, Sparks scored on a wild pitch.

Ashland added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the inning.

Coal Grove (2-1) visits Chesapeake Wednesday.

Coal Grove2020010=553

Ashland200052x=973

Zack Murphy, Wayne Sparks (6) and Taylor Dean. Sam Hunter, Chase Adkins (2) and Chris Duvall. W-Adkins (5-K, 2-BB). L-Murphy (6-K, 5-BB). 2B-Coal Grove: Taylor Dean. Ashland: Justin Slone. Hitting-Coal Grove: Alex Johnson 1-4, Taylor Dean 2-3, David Bridges 1-4, Tyler Allen 1-1. Ashland: Justin Slone 1-2, Caleb Rigsby 1-4, Alex Bonnette 3-3, Trey Keaton 1-3, Chris Duvall 1-2.