Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — It could be that Kasey Murphy and Deanna Bentley listened to Toby Keith singing “Drive It On Home” before Wednesday’s game.

Murphy and Bentley were driving runners home as they combined for eight RBIs in a 10-1 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Portsmouth Lady Trojans.

Murphy was 4-for-4 with two doubles, a triple and five RBI while Bentley went 2-3 with a home run and three RBI.

“Murphy and Bentley saw the ball really well and hit the ball hard. Both of them excelled tonight with runner’s in scoring position,” said Lady Hornets’ coach Mitch Crum.

Kylee Keaton went 2-4 and Brook Blakeman 2-3 with an RBI as Coal Grove (7-4, 4-2) had 13 hits.

Bentley reached on an error and Murphy tripled as Coal Grove took a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

The lead went to 5-0 in the second.

Gracie Riley and Keaton singled, Racheal Webb was hit by a pitch and Blakeman singled in a run.

Bentley had an RBI single and Murphy got a two-run single.

Portsmouth got a run in the fourth on a double by Semajah Parker and two ground outs.

Coal Grove answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning when Lauren Meyer singled, Bentley walked and Murphy had a two-run double. Leah Crum singled home the final run.

Blakeman singled and Bentley hit an inside-the-park home run in the fifth to cap the scoring.

“Defensively we played the best game of the season. Every girls contributed something. Portsmouth is a really good team and they have some outstanding players,” said coach Crum.

Peighton Williams was 3-4, Jada Jenkins 2-3 and Morgan Reedy 2-4 for Portsmouth.

Coal Grove visits Chesapeake on Thursday.

Portsmouth 000 100 0 = 1 10 2

Coal Grove 140 320 x = 10 13 1

Andi Queen and Bailey Horsley. Kasey Murphy and Gracie Riley. W-Murphy (K-2, BB-3, ER-1). L-Queen (K-4, BB-1, HBP-1, ER-9). Hitting—PHS: Baleigh Bradley 1-3 rbi, Peighton Williams 3-4, Jada Jenkins 2-3, Morgan Reedy 2-4, Gullett 1-4, Semajah Parker 1-3 2B; CG: Lauren Meyer 1-4, Deanna Bentley 2-3 rbi-3 HR, Kasey Murphy 4-4 rbi-5 2-2B 3B, Leah Crum 1-4 rbi, Gracie Riley 1-4, Khylee Keaton 2-4, Brook Blakeman 2-3 rbi.