By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

COAL GROVE — Even though the Coal Grove Hornets suffered a loss, coach Dean Mader could still see a silver lining.

The Hornets had one bad inning as they lost 8-3 to the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans on Tuesday.

“We’re not stringing things together, but we are playing better even if our record doesn’t show it,” said Mader. “We’re young and we’re making mistakes, but we’re playing hard and we’re getting better.”

Jacob Pierce pitched six innings for the Hornets striking out 10, walking three and allowing four hits and six runs.

Coal Grove (3-10) had seven hits with Conor Markins and Cody Pennington each going 2-3.

The Hornets went up 1-0 in the first inning on singles by Markins, Pierce and Pennington.

The Titans tied the game in the second when Matthew Malone walked and scored with the aid of three Coal Grove errors.

Notre Dame had their decisive five-run fourth inning to take a 6-1 lead.

Brad Pierron and Malone walked and Michael Mader had an RBI single. Dakota Smith singled in a run and a passed ball scored another. Jack Kayser hit a sacrifice fly, Jacob Milani’s fielder’s choice scored a run and Tyler Noel singled in the final run.

The Hornets got a run back in the bottom of the inning on singles by Pennington and Joe Colley and Garrett Myers’ sacrifice fly.

Markins singled, moved up on Pierce’s fly out and score when Pennington grounded out and it was 6-3 in the sixth.

But the Titans scored two insurance runs in the sixth to seal the win.

Coal Grove visits Chesapeake on Wednesday. The Hornets also host River Valley on Thursday and the school will hold a dedication ceremony at the field for the late coach John Jones beginning at 4:45 p.m.

Notre Dame 010 500 2 = 8 6 0

Coal Grove 100 101 0 = 3 7 3

Jack Kayser, David Medley (6) and Michael Mader. Jacob Pierce, Garrett Myers (6) and Jessie Rigsby. W-Kayser (K-3, BB-0). L-Pierce (K-10, BB-3, H-4, R-6, HBP-1). Myers K-3, BB-1, H-2, R-2. 2B-ND: Matthew Malone. Hitting-ND: Tyler Noel 1-4, Matthew Malone 1-2, Michael Mader 2-4, Dakota Smith 1-4, Jack Kayser 1-3; Coal Grove: Conor Markins 2-3, Mason Nance 1-3, Cody Pennington 2-3, Joe Colley 1-3.