Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

AID — Teams need pitching to win. Kara Saunders took care of that in near-perfect style.
Saunders allowed just one baserunner as she pitched a five-inning no-hitter and the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings blanked the Sciotoville East Lady Tartans 17-0 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Tuesday.
Saunders struck out three, did not walk a batter and the only baserunner came on a passed ball to start the fifth inning.
“Pitching was the biggest thing today. Saunders did a real nice job. She threw strikes and we played pretty good defense,” said Lady Vikings’ coach
The Lady Vikings got two runs in the first inning.
Morgan Jenkins tripled and Ericca Ross had an RBI single. Emily Estep hit into a fielder’s choice and Payton Hunter reached on an error as a run scored.
The lead went to 3-0 in the third inning when Rachael Hayes walked, moved up on a wild pitch and Jenkins doubled her home.
Symmes Valley put the game away with a 14-run outburst in the fourth inning that was aided by five walks and four errors.
Sarah Kingery had a two-run triple, Saunders singled in a run and Estep drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to highlight the rally.
Jenkins went 2-3 with a double and a triple and Ross was 2-4 to lead the offense.
Symmes Valley travels to Portsmouth Notre Dame on Wednesday.
Sciotoville    000    00    =    0    0    7
Sym. Valley    201    (14)x    =    17    8    0
Burgess and Setty. Kara Saunders and Ericca Ross. W-Saunders (K-3, BB-0). L-Burgess (K-0, BB-6). Hitting-SV: Morgan Jenkins 2-3 2B 3B, Ericca Ross 2-4, Payton Hunter 1-2, Kara Saunders 1-4, Sarah Kingery 1-3 3B.