Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SOUTH POINT — Each team threw their ace and the game proved to be aces.
South Point’s Brody Blackwell won a pitcher’s duel against Coal Grove’s Nate Harmon as the Pointers rallied late for a 4-3 Ohio Valley Conference win on Thursday.
Blackwell gave up seven this, struck out eight, did not walk a batter and all three runs were earned.
Harmon allowed only five hits, struck out 10, walked two and only two runs were earned.
Brady Doyle was 2-3 with a triple and two runs batted in for the Hornets (3-6, 1-4).
Coal Grove took a 2-0 lead in the first inning with one out.
Harmon singled, stole second and scored on Doyle’s base hit. Doyle took third on the throw home and scored on a hit by Ben Compliment.
The Pointers (6-4, 3-2) tied the game in the third.
Drew Smith had a one-out triple, Blackwell walked with two outs and both runners scored on a hit by Ben Walls.
The Hornets regained the lead with a run in the top of the sixth when Kyle Sites singled and Doyle lined a triple to right field.
But the Pointers got two runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good.
Walls singled and Drake McClure walked. Brycen McCann put down a sacrifice bunt attempt that was misplayed for an error scoring pinch-runner Hunter Robinette.
Zach Cline had a squeeze bunt to score McClure with what proved to be the winning run.
Blackwell retired the Hornets in order in the seventh to secure the win.
Coal Grove 200 001 0 = 3 7 2
South Point 002 002 x = 4 5 0
Nate Harmon and Ben Compliment. Brody Blackwell and Drake McClure. W-Blackwell (K-8, BB-0, ER-3). L-Harmon (K-10, BB-2, ER-2). Hitting-CG: Nate Harmon 1-3, Kyle Sites 1-3, Brady Doyle 2-3 3B 2-rbi, Ben Compliment 1-3 rbi, Cory Borders 1-3, Evan Gannon 1-3; SP: Drew Smith 1-3 3B, Ben Walls 2-3 2-rbi, Drake McClure 2-2, Zach Cline rbi.