Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — Forget small ball. The South Point Lady Pointers played long ball.

The Lady Pointers used three home runs to produce all their runs as they held off the Rock Hill Redwomen 4-3 Friday in a key Ohio Valley Conference game.

Kaitlyn Brown got the win as she gave up six hits and struck out five.

The home runs were the only real blemishes on a strong pitching effort for Rock Hill’s Sami Nixon. She gave up just five hits and struck out seven.

“We got a good pitching performance by Kaitlyn Brown and some big home runs,” said South Point coach Tanner Heaberlin.

“It was a hard-fought game by both squads. We only had one hit until the top of the sixth. We played good defense the last two innings and got the win. I’m extremely proud of our girls’ effort.”

Rock Hill snapped a scoreless tie and took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Jenna Lane reached on an error, Anna Darby singled to put runners on the corners and Nixon hit a sacrifice fly. Kaci Russell followed with an RBI double.

But in the top of the sixth, Abbey Winkler singled. Hannah Carey followed with a two-run homer to tie the game.

Haley Rawlins and Sylvia Griffith came right behind with home runs to give the Lady Pointers three straight long balls and a 4-2 lead.

Rock Hill got a run in the seventh when Jenna Lane single, Lindy Simpson had a sacrifice bunt and Darby smacked an RBI double.

But Brown worked her way out of the jam and secured the win for the Lady Pointers who are now 6-1 in the OVC.

South Point 000 004 0 = 4 5 0

Rock Hill 000 020 1 = 3 6 1

Kaitlyn Brown and Andi Kleinman. Sami Nixon and Brooke Eastham. W-Brown (K-5). L-Nixon (K-7). Hitting-SP: Abbey Winkler 2-4, Hannah Carey 1-3, Haley Rawlins 1-3, Sylvia Griffith 1-3; RH: Kaci Russell 1-4, Jill Hairston 1-3, Brooke Hanshaw 1-3, Jenna Lane 1-3, Anna Darby 2-3. 2B-RH: Kaci Russell, Anna Darby. HR-SP: Hannah Carey, Haley Rawlins, Sylvia Griffith.