Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — Instead of “cut to the chase,” Coal Grove decided to “Chase to cut.”

Chase McKnight pitched a two-hitter and struck out 15 as the Hornets cut off a four-game losing streak and beat the Chesapeake Panthers 13-4 on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We played pretty well,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.

“Chase threw well. He walked a few and we made a couple of errors, but other than that it was a good effort all the way around.”

Coal Grove (3-5, 1-5) banged out 16 hits with Dylan Malone going 4-for-4 and Jacob Clark 2-4 with a double and a triple. Jeb Jones and Cole Gannon were 2-3 and Darren Bloomfield 2-5. Daniel Rutherford, Bloomfield and Gannon all had doubles.

Clark tripled, Rutherford and Jones walked, Isaac Howard had a sacrifice for an RBI and Malone an RBI single to put the Hornets up 2-0 in the first inning.

The Hornets opened up the game with six runs in the third as Rutherford doubled, Jones, Howard and Malone all singled, Bloomfield and Gannon doubled and McKnight singled.

Jones walked, Malone singled, Bloomfield reached on an error and Jordan Case singled as Coal Grove got two more runs in the fourth to lead 10-0.

Chesapeake got a run in the fifth on a walk to Kobe McWhorter, a passed ball and Austin Browning’s base hit.

The Hornets added three more runs in the sixth.

Howard walked, Malone and Bloomfield singled, Gannon walked and Clark doubled.

The Panthers scored three runs in the sixth.

Casey McComas and Kolton Webb walked, Dakota Blankenship singled in a run and two runs scored on an error.

On Monday, Coal Grove visits Rock Hill and Chesapeake travels to South Point.

Coal Grove 206 203 0 = 13 16 3

Chesapeake 000 013 0 = 4 2 2

Chase McKnight and Jeb Jones. Kolton Webb, Jamey Mills (4), Austin Browning (4), Casey McComas (7) and Blake Ashworth. W-McKnight (K-15, BB-4). L-Webb. Hitting-CG: Chase McKnight 1-5, Jacob Clark 2-4 2B 3B, Daniel Rutherford 1-4 2B, Jeb Jones 2-3, Isaac Howard 1-2, Dylan Malone 4-4, Darren Bloomfield 2-5 2B, Jordan Case 1-4, Cole Gannon 2-3 2B; CHS: Casey McComas 1-4 2B, Dakota Blankenship 1-3.