COAL GROVE — Once the defense settled down, the offense began to shake things up.

The Coal Grove Hornets shook off six early errors and rallied to edge the St. Joseph Flyers 9-8 Wednesday.

“I think we were trying to see if everyone could make an error,” Hornets coach John Jones said with a chuckle. “But we settled down and started making plays and we started to hit the ball.”

The Hornets comeback gave Tyler Allen his first career win in relief. Allen struck out four, walked three and allowed two earned runs.

St. Joseph (1-1) took a 6-0 lead with three runs in each of the first two innings.

In the first, Ryan Schwab was hit by a pitch, Alex Swarts and Ryan Waginger reached on errors and Caleb Blankenship doubled home two runs. Jerrod Laber grounded out to drive in a third run.

Chad Harvey was safe on an error to start the second and Andrew Whaley beat out a bunt single. Schwab was safe on an error as a run scored and Waginger belted a two-run double.

Coal Grove (1-1) began its comeback with a seven-run fifth inning.

Andrw Christian, Randy Wise, Eric Davidson, Tyler Branch, Zach Murphy and Mason Schug all singled. Alex Johnson doubled in two runs, Tyler Allen walked and Christian had an RBI single.

The Hornets extended the lead to 9-6 with two runs in the sixth inning.

Branch singled, Murphy was hit by a pitch, Schug walked and Johnson had an RBI single. Allen grounded out as a run score.

But the Flyers refused to quit.

Blackburn walked, Laber singled and they moved up on a wild pitch. Whaley delivered a two-run single and it was 9-8.

Addis walked on a passed ball but the runners on second and third base held. Schwab hit a line drive in the gap to left field only to have Johnson make a running catch to end the game.

“Give Coal Grove credit. They didn’t quit,” Flyers coach Greg Bryant said. “But our kids didn’t quit. Usually we just kick the ball around, but we played pretty well. Coal Grove just hit the ball.”

St. Joseph3300002=884

Coal Grove000072x=9136

Ryan Waginger, Jeremy Addis (5) and Jeremy Addis, Pat Gagai (5). Eric Davidson, Tyler Allen (4) and Mason Schug. W-Allen (4-K, 3-BB, 2-ER). L-Waginger (3-K, 1-BB, 6-ER). 2B-St. Joseph: Jeremy Addis, Ryan Waginger, Caleb Blackburn; Coal Grove: Alex Johnson. Hitting-St. Joseph: Jeremy Addis 1-4, Ryan Schwab 1-4, Ryan Waginger 1-3, Caleb Blackburn 2-2, Jerrod Laber 1-4, Andrew Whaley 2-4; Coal Grove: Randy Wise 1-3, Eric Davidson 2-4, Tyler Branch 3-4, Zach Murphy 1-3, Mason Schug 2-3, Andrew Christian 2-, Alex Johnson 2-2.