Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — When you get good pitching, hitting and defense, it’s a hard combination to beat.

Coal Grove had all three facets working Tuesday as the Lady Hornets beat the Fairland Lady Dragons 9-2 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“Defensively, we played well tonight. The girls played hard and had fun,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Mitch Crum.

“(Kasey) Murphy pitched a really good game. Fairland has some powerful hitters. I thought Murphy hit her spots that needed to be hit.”

Murphy struck out four, walked one and gave up one earned run.

Coal Grove (6-4, 3-2) had 11 hits with Leah Crum and Gracie Riley both going 2-for-3 while Murphy was 2-4.

Crum, Murphy, Riley had Mckenzie Moore all had doubles and Riley slammed a home run.

“Crum, Murphy and Moore had some really good at-bats and struck the ball hard tonight. Riley hit the ball in the mouth,” said coach Crum.

Fairland took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Morgan Fridley singled, Tiffani Christian reached on an error and Caitlin Stone singled.

But Coal Grove rallied to score four runs in the third inning.

Murphy singled, Crum walked and Murphy scored on a passed ball. Moore, Riley and Kylee Keaton all walked for a run, and Rachael Webb and Lauren Meyer both had RBI singles.

The lead went to 7-1 in the fourth when Murphy and Moore doubled for a run and Riley cranked a two-run homer.

The Lady Hornets added two runs in the sixth to lead 9-1.

Crum doubled, Moore walked and a throwing error allowed both runners to score.

Fairland managed a run in the seventh when Stone singled, stole second and scored on a hit by Mackenzie Riley.

On Wednesday, Coal Grove hosts Portsmouth while Fairland entertains Ironton.

Fairland 010 000 1 = 2 9 2

Coal Grove 004 302 x = 9 11 2

Caitlin Stone, Allison Shepherd (3) and Mollie Morris. Kasey Murphy and Gracie Riley. W-Murphy (K-4, BB-1, ER-1). L-Stone (IP-2.1, K-1, BB-6, R-4, ER-4, H-3). Shepherd (IP-3.2, K-2, BB-2, H-8, R-5, ER-5). Hitting—FHS: Caitlin Stone 2-4 rbi, Maddy Kazee 2-4, Mackenzie Riley 2-4 rbi, Morgan Fridley 2-4, Allison Shepherd 1-4; CG: Lauren Meyer 1-3 rbi, Deanna Bentley 1-4, Kasey Murphy 2-4, Leah Crum 2-3, Mckenzie Moore 1-1 rbi, Gracie Riley 2-3 rbi-2, Khylee Keaton 1-3 rbi, Rachael Webb 1-4 rbi.