PEDRO — This game was everything it was expected to be.

Fairland pitcher Alex Thackston pitched a one-hitter as the Dragons rallied to beat the Rock Hill Redmen and pitcher Josh Malone 2-1 Thursday.

“That was a big win. That puts us in real good shape in the league,” said Fairland coach Bryan Ward.

Fairland took a giant step closer toward winning the Ohio Valley Conference baseball title with the win. Fairland is now 12-3 overall and 6-1 in the OVC, two games ahead of Coal Grove.

Rock Hill is now 10-8 and 5-4 in the league. Three of their losses have been by one run.

‘We hit some shots, but they wouldn’t fall,” said Redmen coach Barry Litteral. “It was a well-pitched game on both ends.”

Rock Hill took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on a home run by Cody Massie, but Fairland was able to score twice in the sixth inning.

Thackston singled to start the rally and Chad Fisher doubled to put runners at second and third. With two outs, Eric Riley had a two-run single.

“Riley is starting to hit the ball for us,” said Ward.

Thackston struck out 11, didn’t walk a batter and hit one. Malone also fanned 11 and walked two.

Malone continued to be the victim of tough luck. In 29 innings this season he’s allowed seven earned runs, four in the first game of the season.

On Friday, Fairland hosts South Point and Rock Hill visits River Valley.

Fairland 000 002 0 = 2 7 3

Rock Hill 000 100 0 = 1 1 0

Alex Thackston and Matt Campbell. Josh Malone and Cody Massie. W-Thackston (11-K, 0-BB, 2-HBP). L-Malone (11-K, 2-BB). 2B-Fairland: Chad Fisher. HR-Rock Hill: Cody Massie. Hitting-Fairland: Alex Thackston 2-3, Jon Baise 1-3, Chad Fisher 1-3, Tyler Duty 1-3, Eric Riley 2-3; Rock Hill: Cody Massie 1-3.