Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — The Rock Hill Redwomen used a big defensive play to ignite their offense.
An excellent running catch by Sam Stamper in the fifth inning that she turned into a double play provided the spark the Redwomen needed as they rallied to edge the Coal Grove Lady Hornets 7-6 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Monday.
Coal Grove took a 3-0 lead in the first inning as Kasey Murphy slammed a 250-foot three-run homer after singles by Lauren Meyer and Gracie Rylie.
The Lady Hornets added a run in the second on a walk to Delaney Napier, Meyer’s sacrifice and Rylie’s base hit.
Rock Hill (5-0, 2-0) got a run in the bottom of the third to trail 4-1. Rileigh Morris singled and Grace Stevens had an RBI hit.
Coal Grove got the run back in the fourth to go up 5-1 when Macy Malone walked, Delaney Napier reached on an error and Meyer’s ground out.
The momentum changer came in the top of the fifth after Stamper’s catch as Rock Hill came to life in the bottom of the inning to score three runs and cut the deficit to 5-4.
Stamper tripled and Morris singled for a run. Stevens, Makenzie Hanshaw and Maddie Harper all followed with base hits.
The Redwomen took the lead with three runs in the sixth.
Baylee Harrah reached on an error, Morris was hit by a pitch and then Kylee Howard, Stevens and Hanshaw all had RBI singles.
Murphy hit her second home run in the seventh with one out but Howard retired the next two batters to end the game.
Stevens had a big game offensively as she went 4-for-4 with an RBi. Morris was 2-4 and Hanshaw 2-4 with three RBI.
Murphy was 2-3 for Coal Grove with two home runs and four RBI. Ryle was 2-4 with an RBI.
Rock Hill will travel to Knoxville, TN., for the rest of the week. The Redwomen plays Knoxville Central on Wednesday, Coalfield and Wartburg on Thursday and The King’s Academy on Friday.
Coal Grove hosts Portsmouth on Wednesday.
Coal Grove    310    100    1    =    6    7    2
Rock Hill    001    033    x    =    7    12    3
Kasey Murphy and Lauren Crum. Kylee Howard and Makenzie Hanshaw. W-Howard (K-2, BB-2). L-Murphy (K-6, BB-0, HBP-1). Hitting-CG: Lauren Meyer 1-3, Gracie Rylie 2-4 rbi, Kasey Murphy 2-3 2-r 4-rbi 2-HRs, Jayden Griffith 1-4, Makenzie Moore 1-3; RH: Rileigh Morris 2-4 2-r, Kylee Howard 1-4 rbi 2-r, Grace Stevens 4-4 rbi, Makenzie Hanshaw 2-4 3-rbi; Maddie Harper 1-4, Baylee Harrah 1-2 3B, Sam Stamper 1-3 3B.