CHESAPEAKE — It was not only the spark the Coal Grove Hornets needed, but it was the spark their pitcher needed as well.

Finally getting back on the mound due to all the rainouts, Wayne Sparks pitched a three-hitter as the Hornets beat the Chesapeake Panthers 4-2 Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Sparks gave up two hits in the first inning and none after the third inning. He finished with two strikeouts, two walks and no earned runs.

“Wayne wasn’t that sharp but he still pitched pretty well. He hasn’t been able to throw a lot of innings with all the rainouts,” said Hornets’ coach John Jones.

“He had a little more velocity, but he didn’t have his best control the first two or three innings.”

Each team got unearned runs to start the scoring.

Wes Lezu reached on a one-out error and Travis Zimmerman hit a two-out, two-run homer to give Chesapeake a 2-0 first inning lead.

Coal Grove took the lead with three runs in the fourth.

With two outs, Willis reached on an error and moved up on a passed ball. Scott Harbolt singled to put runners on the corners, Aaron Conley was safe on an error for a run, Rye Goodwin walked to load the bases and Oakie Haynes had a two-run single.

Coal Grove added an insurance run in the fifth when Murphy singled and moved up on an outfield error. Shannon Goodwin followed with an RBI single.

Coal Grove (4-4, 3-2) visits Rock Hill on Monday.

Coal Grove 000 310 0 = 4 7 1

Chesapeake 200 000 0 = 2 3 3

Wayne Sparks and Aaron Conley. Shane Pelfrey, Zach Harris (6) and Brandon Noble. W-Sparks (2-K, 2-BB, 0-ER). L-Pelfrey (1-K, 2-BB, 1-ER). 2B-CG: Wayne Sparks. HR-Chesapeake: Travis Zimmerman. Hitting-Coal Grove: Oakie Haynes 2-4, Jake Murphy 2-4, Shannon Goodwin 1-4, Wayne Sparks 1-3, Harbolt 1-3; Chesapeake: Shane Pelfrey 1-3, Travis Zimmerman 1-2, Colton Lindsey 1-3.