Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PROCTORVILLE — Now, that’s a closer.

Leading by only a run, Chandler Fulks came on in relief and struck out six of the seven batters she faced to secure the Fairland Lady Dragons 6-3 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Coal Grove Lady Hornets on Tuesday.

Fairland (13-6, 6-2) added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth as they set up Wednesday’s showdown against Rock Hill.

“It was a tight game, but at the end we didn’t fool around and we brought in Chandler,” said Fairland coach Joe Auxier.

Fairland took a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Caitlin Stone walked and Fulks doubled her home. Chloe Stanley was hit by a pitch and Ellen Hinshaw had a two-run double.

The lead went to 4-0 in the fourth when Jaimie Phillips singled and Miranda Hayes, Stone and Chelsey Stanley all walked.

Coal Grove cut the deficit to 4-3 in the fifth.

Abby Harmon walked and scored on a hit by Morgan Sites. Deanna Bentley singled and Shelby Haynes had a two-run single.

In the sixth, Hayes was hit by a pitch, Stone and Chelsey Stanley singled for a run and Fulks hit a sacrifice fly.

Fulks was 2-3 while Hinshaw and Phillips were 2-4.

Coal Grove 000 030 0 = 3 5 1

Fairland 300 102 x = 6 9 1

Brooke Blakeman and Morgan Sites. Allison Shepherd, Chandler Fulks (6) and Chloe Stanley, Molly Morris (5). W-Shepherd (K-3, BB-3, H-4). Save-Fulks (K-6, BB-0, H-1). L-Blakeman (K-5, BB-4, HBP-3). 2B-Fairland: Chandler Fulks, Ellen Hinshaw. Hitting-CG: Kaitlynn Murphy 1-4, Leah Crum 1-4, Morgan Sites 1-3 rbi, Deanna Bentley 1-4, Shelby Haynes 1-4 rbi; Fairland: Caitlin Stone 1-2, Chelsey Stanley 1-3, Chandler Fulks 2-3 rbi-2, Haley Woodall 1-3, Ellen Hinshaw 2-4, Jaimie Phillipos 2-4.