By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PROCTORVILLE — Pitching and defense will do it every time.

Chandler Fulks pitched a one-hitter and the defense played well as the Fairland Lady Dragons beat the Rock Hill Redwomen 7-2 on Monday in a battle for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

“Chandler pitched her best game. They hit the ball, but the defense backed her up. We had a couple of errors, but they were on throws,” said Fairland coach Joe Auxier. “This group has really good chemistry. They get along real well.”

Fulks struck out three, walked two and hit a batter in going the distance.

With the win Fairland (8-1, 4-0) takes over first place in the OVC by one game over Rock Hill (7-4, 3-1).

The game was tied 2-2 until Fairland got five runs in the sixth.

Ellen Hinshaw and Kerie Napier both walked on 3-2 pitches and Caitlin Stone singled to load the bases. Chelsey Stanley then singled home to runs and it was 4-2.

Jaimie Phillips reach on an error for two runs and Fulks singled in the final run.

The Lady Dragons got a run in the second when Chloe Stanley doubled and scored on Chelsey Stanley’s hit.

Rock Hill took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on a two-run single by Morgan Schug after BreeAnna Depriest was ht by a pitch and Brooke Hanshaw reached on an error.

Fairland tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Haley Woodall walked and Hinshaw and Napier singled.

Chelsey Stanley was 2-3 with three runs batted in. Phillips was 2-4 with two RBI and Fulks 2-4.

Rock Hill 000 200 0 = 2 1 2

Fairland 010 105 x = 7 11 3

Sami Nixon, Morgan Schug (6) and Brooke Eastham. Chandler Fulks and Chloe Stanley. W-Fulks (K-3, BB-2, HBP-1). L-Nixon (K-2, BB-2). Schug K-1, BB-0, H-1. 2B-Fairland: Chloe Stanley, Jaimie Phillips. Hitting-Rock Hill: Morgan Schug 1-3 2-rbi; Fairland: Caitlin Stone 1-4, Chelsey Stanley 2-3 3-rbi, Mackenzie Riley 1-4, Chandler Fulks 2-4 rbi, Ellen Hinshaw 1-2, Chloe Stanley 1-3, Jaimie Phillips 2-4 2-rbi, Kerie Napier 1-2.