Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — When opportunity knocked, the Coal Grove Lady Hornets answered.

Coal Grove took advantage of its scoring opportunities including a key rally in the eighth inning as the Lady Hornets edged the Chesapeake Lady Panthers 7-5 on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“Both teams had chances to win and they just executed better than we did. Overall, it was a good game and well-played,” said Chesapeake coach Aaron Rice.

Coal Grove began the game with a three-run rally.

Lauren Meyer got a bunt single, stole second and Gracie Riley got an RBI single. Kasey Murphy singled home Riley and went to second on the throw home. Lauren Crum followed with an RBI single.

Chesapeake tied the game in the third.

Ryleigh Swann singled and moved up on an error. Brooke Webb singled and went to second and both scored when Melanie Noble singled. Noble moved up on an error and Lyric Bair got an RBI single.

Coal Grove took a 4-3 lead in the fifth when Meyer tripled and Riley hit a sacrifice fly.

The Lady Hornets made it 5-3 in the sixth on a triple by Crum and McKenzie Moore’s base hit.

Chesapeake got a run back in the bottom of the inning.

Bair singled, Brianna Russell walked and Jordan Storms singled to score pinch-runner Rachel Pratt.

The Lady Panthers tied the game in the seventh. Webb had a one-out single and went to third on an outfield error. Noble then singled her home.

But Coal Grove scored twice in the eighth.

Crum got a leadoff single, Moore singled and the runners moved up on the return throw from the outfield. Delaney Napier hit into a fielder’s choice as Crum scored and Keeney then singled home Moore.

Coal Grove had 13 hits with Crum going 3-4 with a tripole, Meyer 3-5 with a triple, and Moore and Murphy 2-4.

Murphy picked up the win as she struck out six and walked three.

Webb was 3-3 as the Lady Panthers got 11 hits. Huff was 2-5 with a double and Noble 2-4.

Webb took the loss despite 13 strikeouts and no walks.

On Monday, Chesapeake is at South Point and Coal Grove goes to Rock Hill.

Coal Grove 300 011 02 = 7 13 4

Chesapeake 003 001 10 = 5 11 1

Kasey Murphy and Lauren Crum. Brooke Webb and Kelsey Huff. W-Murphy (K-6, BB-3). L-Webb (K-13, BB-0). Hitting-CG: Meyer 3-5 3B, Gracie Riley 1-5, Kasey Murphy 2-4, Lauren Crum 3-4 3B, Moore 2-4, Keeney 1-4, Shelby Zerkle 1-4; CHS: Kelsey Huff 2-5 2B, Ryleigh Swann 1-5, Brooke Webb 3-3, Melanie Noble 2-4, Lyric Bair 1-4, Jordan Storms 1-3, Laura Rice 1-3.