FRANKLIN FURNACE - That's why they give you three strikes and three outs.

The Green Bobcats kept pushing each at bat to the limit, but they came through enough times to beat the Symmes Valley Vikings 6-2 Monday in a key Southern Ohio Conference game.

"We overcame some base running errors early in the game by hitting well with two strikes and getting big hits with two outs," Green coach Dave Shoupe.

Although the Vikings had 10 hits, coach John Patterson said his team couldn't get the clutch hits.

"We just didn't get any hits when we needed them," Patterson said. "Green has a solid team. Every one of their guys makes contact."

Green is now 11-0 and 9-0 in the SOC. Symmes Valley slips to 5-3 and 3-2 in the SOC.

Ryan Bloomfield got the win as he struck out eight and walked one.

Derek Lewis went 3-for-3, Odie Kelly 2-2 and Adam Sparks 2-4 as Green collected nine hits.

Cory Burcham was 3-3, John Dillon 2-2 and Kyle Meadows 2-4 for the Vikings.

The Vikings took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Burcham singled, stole second and Justin Holland singled.

The Bobcats came back with two runs to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning when Adam Sparks singled, Mark Castro walked and Brian Ramey doubled.

The lead went to 4-1 in the third inning.

Bloomfield was hit by a pitch, stole second and Sparks had an RBI single. Ramey singled, Castro walked to load the bases and Kelly hit a sacrifice fly.

Symmes Valley got within 4-2 in the fourth inning. Owens singled and went to third on a bad pickoff throw. Dillon beat out a bunt single as Owens scored.

Green capped the scoring with two insurance runs in the fifth inning.

With two outs, Castro walked, moved up on a passed ball and Kelly had an RBI single. A passed ball sent Kelly to second and Brad Dehart singled in the run.

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Matt Owens, Cory Burcham (4) and Justin Holland. Ryan Bloomfield and Brian Ramey. W-Bloomfield 3-0 (8-K, 1-W). L-Owens (0-K, 3-W, 1-HBP). 2B-Symmes Valley: Cory Burcham, Kyle Meadows; Green: Derek Lewis, Brad Dehart, Odie Kelly. Hitting-Symmes Valley: Cory Burcham 3-3, Kyle Meadows 2-4, John Dillon 2-2, Justin Holland 1-2, Chad Artrip 1-4, Matt Owens 1-3; Green: Derek Lewis 3-3, Odie Kelly 2-2, Brad Dehart 1-2, Adam Sparks 2-4, Brian Ramey 1-3.