Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — Maybe the way the game went wasn’t pretty, but there was no denying the pitching looked good.
The Rock Hill Redmen used strong pitching as they opened the season with a 3-2 win over the Oak Hill Oaks on Monday as part of the annual Wooden Bat Classic.
“It’s not how I wanted to open up the season, but at least we got a win,” said Rock Hill coach Barry Litteral of the win over Oak Hill. “It was ugly, but it’s always good to start off with a win.”
Cody Lewis went 6.1 innings to get the win while Nick Blankenship struck out the two batters he faced for the save. Lewis fanned nine, walked four, hit a batter and allowed five hits to get the win.
“Lewis did a nice job and Blankenship came in and just slammed the door. We got good pitching and good defense, but we still have a long way to go,” said Litteral.
Rock Hill took a 2-0 lead in the second inning.
Kaden France singled and took third when Jaret Bacorn was safe on an error. Seth Nichols reached on a throwing error as the runners scored.
The Oaks got a run in the third when Hines walked and scored on Eggers’ double.
Both teams got a run in the sixth.
Oak Hill tied the game when Lohner doubled and Snyder singled.
But the Redmen pushed the winning run across in the bottom of the inning without a hit.
Bacorn walked, took third on an errant pickoff play and scored on a wild pitch.
Rock Hill hosts Huntington, W.Va. at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Oak Hill    001    001    0    =    2    5    3
Rock Hill    020    001    x    =    3    5    2
Lohner, Bayley Clutters (4) and Hinze. Cody Lewis, Nick Blankenship (7) and Kaleb Kidd. W-Lewis (6.1-IP, 2-R, 5-H, 9-K, 4-BB, 1-HBP). Save-Blankenship (0.2-IP, 2-K). L-Clutters. Hitting-OH: Walls 1-4, Hines 1-3, Eggers 1-2 2B, Lohner 1-4 2B, Snyder 1-2; RH: Jake Blagg 1-3, Landon Smith 1-3, Logan Hankins 1-3, Kaden France 2-3.