Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — The bats were booming.

The Coal Grove Lady Hornets banged out 16 hits including a home run by Lauren Crum as they beat the Chesapeake Lady Panthers 14-4 in six innings on Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

The Lady Hornets jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning.

Lauren Meyer reached on an error, Gracie Riley walked and Kasey Murphy singled to load the bases. Crum singled in a run and Khylee Keaton reached on a fielder’s choice to score a run.

Delaney Napier also reached on a fielder’s choice as another run scored. Khylee Keaton then singled home two runs.

Coal Grove went up 7-0 in the second inning.

Riley and Murphy doubled and Crum walked to load the bases. Moore and Keaton both followed with sacrifice flies.

The Lady Panthers got all four of their runs in the third.

Jordan Storms doubled and Rachel Pratt singled her home. Pratt went to third on the throw home and scored on Laura Rice’s base hit.

Kelsey Huff, and Brooke Webb singled for a run and Melanie Noble singled for two runs.

Coal Grove got two runs back in the fourth inning when Riley and Crum singled and Moore doubled them home.

The lead went to 13-4 in the fifth inning.

Meyer walked and Riley and Murphy singled for a run. Crum then stepped to the plate and cranked a three-run homer.

The Lady Hornets ended the game with a run in the bottom of the sixth.

Emily Keeney singled, Shelby Zerkle sacrificed her to second, Meyer singled to put runners on the corners and Riley lined a single to drive in Keeney.

Coal Grove plays at 5 p.m. on Friday at Ironton in the Division III sectional tournament.

Chesapeake 004 000 = 4 7 1

Coal Grove 520 241 = 14 16 0

Brooke Webb, Melanie Noble (5) and Kelsey Huff. Kasey Murphy and Lauren Crum. W-Murphy (K-5, BB-0, ER-4). L-Webb (IP-4.0, H-9, ER-8, K-5, BB-3). Noble (IP-1.1, H-7, BB-1, ER-5).