Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

AID — One bad apple did spoil the whole bunch.
An eight-run fifth inning was the difference as the Beaver Eastern Lady Eagles edged the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings 8-7 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Friday.
“It was just one of those games. We hit a lot of line shots right at people and we had just one bad inning where we just couldn’t get that third out,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep.
The Lady Vikings got a run in the first when Sarah Kingery singled, went to third on a ground out and wild pitch, and Kara Saunders hit a sacrifice fly.
Eastern scored all eight of its runs on nine hits in the top of the fifth inning to take an 8-1 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Emily Sharp, Kingery and Morgan Jenkins all singled and Taylor Webb hit into a fielder’s choice as a run score.
The Lady Vikings cut the deficit to 8-5 in the sixth.
Emily Estep reached on an error, Rachael Hayes and Sharp both singled and a throwing error allowed a run to score.
Kingery followed with a two-run double.
Symmes Valley mounted a rally in the seventh inning that just fell short.
Saunders singled, Hailee Littlejohn reached on an error and Ericca Ross reached on an error to load the bases.
After a pitching change, Estep hit a line shot to shortstop that resulted in a double play as a run scored.
Ross went to third on a wild pitch and Hayes singled to drive in the run, but the next batter flied out to end the game.
The Lady Vikings had 11 hits as Kingery went 3-4 with a double while Ross, Hayes and Sharp were all 2-4. Sharp also had a double.
Symmes Valley visits Eastern on Monday.
Eastern     000    080    0    =    8    14    4
Sym. Valley    100    013    2    =    7    11    0
Stockham, Tomlison (7) and Carroll. Sarah Kingery, Kara Saunders (IP-2.1) and Ericca Ross. L-Kingery (IP-4.1, K-2, BB-0, HBP-1). Saunders (IP-2.1, K-2, BB-0). Hitting-BE: Olivia Hatfield 3-4, Adkins 3-4, Makenzie Greene 2-4, Carroll 2-4, Southworth 2-5 HR, Freemont 1-4, Breanna Green 1-4; SV: Sarah Kingery 3-4 2B, Ericca Ross 2-4, Rachael Hayes 2-4, Emily Sharp 2-4 2B, Kara Saunders 1-3, Morgan Jenkins 1-4.