Pierce pitches Hornets past Panthers in OVC
Published 4:36 am Tuesday, April 3, 2012
![Pierce on web](https://www.irontontribune.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2012/04/Pierce-on-web.jpg)
Coal Grove Hornets’ pitcher Jacob Pierce struck out 16 batters in a 7-2 win over Chesapeake on Monday in an Ohio Valley Conference game. (The Ironton Tribune / Kent Sanborn of Southern Ohio Sports Photos)
By JIM WALKER
Tribune Sports Editor
COAL GROVE — Youth is served.
Freshman Jacob Pierce struck out 16, walked just two as he fired a four-hitter to help the Coal Grove Hornets beat the Chesapeake Panthers 7-2 on Monday in the Ohio Valley Conference opener.
“Pierce has been throwing well. He came out and hit his spots,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader. “We’ve had a couple of freshmen pitchers get some wins for us. It’s nice to get that first league win.”
Pierce also went 2-3 as the Hornets collected five hits.
Coal Grove (2-3, 1-0) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning.
Conor Markins walked, Pierce singled and an error allowed a run to score. Cody Pennington reached on a fielder’s choice as a run scored.
Austin Gumbert was hit by a pitch, Garrett Myers walked, Jesse Rigsby singled for two runs and Joe Colley singled in the final run.
Markins was safe on an error, Pierce singled and a passed ball and an error produced two runs in the second inning and it was 7-0.
Brandon Noble singled, stole second and scored on Hunter Bare’s base hit as Chesapeake scored in the fourth. Blake Lester walked, moved up on a wild pitch and Noble had an RBI single for a run in the sixth.
Chesapeake 000 101 0 = 2 4 8
Coal Grove 520 000 x = 7 5 1
Hunter Bare and Brandon Noble. Jacob Pierce and Jesse Rigsby. W-Pierce (K-16, BB-2). L-Bare (K-7, BB-5). 2B-Chesapeake: Blake Lester; CG: Jake Jewell. Hitting-Chesapeake: Blake Lester 1-2, Brandon Noble 2-3, Chapman 1-3; Coal Grove: Jake Jewell 1-1, Jacob Pierce 2-3, Jesse Rigsby 1-3, Joe Colley 1-3.