Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — Now we’ve got us a race.

Coal Grove tightened the Ohio Valley Conference race with a 5-3 win over the first-place Chesapeake Panthers on Friday.

The Hornets are 7-4 overall but 4-1 in the OVC. It was Chesapeake’s first loss in the OVC as the Panthers fell to 6-4 on the season and 6-1 in the league.

“That was a big win. It would have been a lot tougher to get down two games. We at least put ourselves in a position to give us a chance,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.

Daniel Rutherford got the win as he struck out 10, walked two and hit a batter.

“He threw better as the game went on. He had better control and he got stronger as the game went on,” said Mader.

The Hornets went up 2-0 in the second inning.

Jacob Pierce singled, Sean Paulus walked, both moved up on a passed ball and scored on a hit by Dylan Malone.

The lead went to 3-0 in the top of the third when Rutherford walked, stole second, Jesse Rigsby singled and Paulus grounded out.

The Panthers got a run in the third to make it 3-1.

Kolton Webb had a bunt single, moved up on a passed ball, stole third and scored on a balk.

Coal Grove pushed its lead to 4-1 in the fourth.

Malone walked, took second on a passed ball, Jacob Clark singled to put runners on the corners and Malone scored when Clark got hung up in a rundown.

The Panthers cut the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the inning.

Jacob Eddy singled, moved up on a passed ball, took third on a fly ball and scored when Kobe McWhorter singled.

McWhorter advanced on a passed ball and Webb had an RBI single.

The Hornets got an insurance run in the seventh.

Rutherford singled, stole second, took third on a passed ball and rode home on a hit by Pierce.

Pierce was 2-4 as Coal Grove had seven hits.

Webb went 2-2, Blake Lester 2-3 with a double, McWhorter 2-3 and Eddy 2-4 for the Panthers’ eight hits.

On Monday, Coal Grove hosts Ironton while Chesapeake entertains Rock Hill.

Coal Grove 021 100 1 = 5 7 1

Chesapeake 001 200 0 = 3 8 1

Daniel Rutherford and Jesse Rigsby. Derek Morris, Nate Smith (4) and Blake Ashworth. W-Rutherford (K-10, BB-2, HBP-1). L-Morris. Hitting—CG: Jacob Clark 1-4, Daniel Rutherford 1-2, Jesse Rigsby 1-4, Jacob Pierce 2-4, Dylan Malone 1-2, Jacob Myers 1-3; CHS: Blake Lester 2-3 2B, Jacob Eddy 2-4, Kobe McWhorter 2-3, Kolton Webb 2-2.