Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

BIDWELL — It was a good night for the Rock Hill Redwomen. It was a career night for Jill Hairston.

The Rock Hill freshman not only pitched a five-inning two-hitter, but smacked a grand slam home run and drove in seven runs in a 14-2 romp of the River Valley Lady Raiders Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Hairston struck out four and did not walk a batter to get the win. She also went 2-3 at the plate with a double and her first career home run.

“It was a really good night for the whole team. It was a team effort,” said Rock Hill coach Sam Gue.

“Hairston pitched a great game and she and (Anna) Darby had great games for freshmen. (Brooke) Hanshaw continued to do well at the plate.”

Rock Hill (12-5, 5-1) had 12 hits with Hanshaw going 3-4 with a home run and four RBIs. Darby was 2-3 with a home run and two RBIs, Riann Keating 2-3, Kaci Russell 2-4 and Lindy Simpson had a double.

Rock Hill took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Russell singled, moved up on a passed ball and scored on a throwing error.

River Valley came back to score two in the bottom of the inning.

Chelsea Copley singled and scored when Ashley Gilmore’s ground ball was thrown away. Gilmore reached third base on the play and scored on a sacrifice fly by Libby Leach.

But Rock Hill came back to take the lead for good with four runs in the second.

Keating singled, Darby reached on an error, Lindy Simpson was hit by a pitch and Hairston unloaded a grand slam home run.

The lead went to 9-1 in the fourth.

Darby singled, Simpson doubled and Russell had a bunt single to load the bases. Hairston then cleared the bases with a three-run double. Hanshaw followed with an RBI single.

The Redwomen put the game away with five runs in the fifth.

Keating singled and Darby followed with a two-run homer. Hairston and Hannah Roach walked and Hanshaw clubbed a three-run homer.

Rock Hill 140 45 = 14 12 3

River Valley 200 00 = 2 2 2

Jill Hairston and Brooke Eastham. Ashley Gilmore and Libby Leach. W-Hairston (K-4, BB-0). L-Gilmore (K-6, BB-2). Hitting-RH: Jill Hairston 2-3 rbi-7, Anna Darby 2-3 rbi-2, Brooke Hanshaw 3-4 rbi-4, Kaci Russell 2-4, Riann Keating 2-3, Lindy Simpson 1-2; RV: Copley 1-3, Eddy 1-2. 2B-RH: Jill Hairston, Lindy Simpson. HR-RH: Jill Hairston, Brooke Hanshaw, Anna Darby.