Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — The Coal Grove Lady Hornets don’t bend but not break, they bend and then snap back.

After falling behind 5-2, the Lady Hornets rallied to beat the South Point Lady Pointers 10-7 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Monday.

“Defensively, we need to start playing better early in ball games. But I’m really proud of our team and the way the always seem to fight back strong late in games,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Mitch Crum.

Coal Grove (5-1, 2-1) had 16 hits as Kasey Murphy went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in while Lauren Meyer, Leah Crum, McKenzie Moore, Khylee Keaton and Racheal Webb all went 2-4.

Moore had four RBIs.

Abbey Winkler was 3-3 to lead South Point.

“Emily Keeney gave us a big spark in the second inning with her single. McKenzie Moore had clutch hits tonight with runners in scoring position,” said Crum.

A walked to Winkler, a wild pitch, a passed ball and two errors gave South Point a 2-0 lead in the first.

Coal Grove tied the game in the second on singles by Riley, Keaton, Webb and Keeney.

The Lady Pointers took a 5-2 lead in the fourth when Adkins was it by a pitch, Morrison and Keeney singled and Lexi Smith had an RBI ground out.

But Coal Grove answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning.

Meyer singled, moved up on a passed ball and Bentley had an RBI single. Murphy and Crum singled to load the bases and Moore had a two-run single.

Coal Grove took the lead with five runs in the fifth.

Webb singled, Keeney walked and Meyer reached on an error as pinch-runner Gracie Niece scored.

Bentley walked, Murphy had a two-run single and Moore had a two-run double.

South Point got two runs in the seventh.

Abby Hannah, Morrison and Winkler all singled for a run. Morrison reached on an error as the final run scored.

Coal Grove hosts Fairland on Wednesday.

South Point 200 300 2 = 7 9 2

Coal Grove 020 350 x = 10 16 2

Lexi Smith, Abby Hannah (4), Lexi Smith (5) and Emilee Powell. Kasey Murphy and Garcie Riley. W-Murphy (K-6, BB-6, ER-6). L-Smith (IP-5, K-3, B-2, ER-3, R-6, H-11). Hannah (IP-1, K-1, ER-3, R-3). Hitting—SP: Abbey Winkler 3-3 rbi-2, Lexi Smith rbi, Haley Rawlins 1-4, Halie Powell 1-3, Abby Hannah 1-4, Adkins 2-3, Morrison 1-3; CG: Lauren Meyer 2-4, Deanna Bentley 1-3 rbi, Kasey Murphy 3-4 rbi-2, Leah Crum 2-4, McKenzie Moore 2-4, rbi-4, Gracie Riley 1-3, Khylee Keaton 2-4, Racheal Webb 2-4, Emily Keeney 1-2 rbi-2.