By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

FRANKLIN FURNACE — T.J. McCloud kept putting up ‘Ks’ until his catcher put up an HR.

McCloud struck out 16 batters and Matt Ratcliff hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Green Bobcats stayed unbeaten with a 4-2 win over the Portsmouth Clay Panthers Wednesday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

McCloud allowed just four hits and did not walk a batter in going the distance.

“That’s a heck of an effort. He pounded the strike zone. He pitched well,” said Green coach Dan McDavid. “We booted the ball around a little. (McCloud) stepped up and picked us up.”

Clay went up 1-0 in the first inning when Johnny McKenzie singled and scored on two Green errors.

The Bobcats (7-0, 4-0) tied the game in the third on an RBI single by Tyler Hughes after Dillon Smith singled and moved up on a passed ball and wild pitch.

Keith Stepp slammed a one-out, solo home run in the fourth inning to give Green a 2-1 lead.

But Clay tied the game in the sixth when Eli Kelly doubled and Nathan Burchett singled.

Ratcliff then ended the game in the eighth as he belted a 1-1 pitch to left-centerfield following a leadoff walk to McCloud.

Hughes was 2-4 as Green had seven hits.

Burchett took the loss as he struck out 11 and walked three.

Ports. Clay 100 001 00 = 2 4 1

Green 001 100 02 = 4 7 5

Nathan Burchett and Eli Kelly. T.J. McCloud and Matt Ratcliff. W-McCloud (K-16, BB-0). L-Burchett (K-11, BB-3). 2B-Clay: Kelly. HR-Green: Matt Ratcliff, Keith Stepp. Hitting-Clay: Eli Kelly 2-4, Johnny McKenzie 1-4, Nathan Burchett 1-3; Green: Dillon Smith 1-2, Tyler Hughes 2-4 rbi, T.J. McCloud 1-3, Colton Brammer 1-3, Keith Stepp 1-3 rbi, Matt Ratcliff 1-4 2-rbi.