Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

BIDWELL — Going back-to-back is never easy, and that includes beating the same team.

Rock Hill easily beat River Valley 15-1 on Wednesday, but it was a little more difficult when the Redmen made the return visit on Thursday.

However, six errors that led to only one earned run played a key role but the Redmen managed to get a 7-4 Ohio Valley Conference win behind the solid pitching of Levi Wilds.

“It was ugly, but it was a win,” said Rock Hill coach Barry Litteral. “Wilds pitched well, we just didn’t give him much (defensive) support behind him.

“But it’s tough to win back-to-back games like that against the same team.”

Wilds got the complete game win with a five-hitter. He struck out seven, walked one and hit a batter.

Rock Hill (9-4, 4-2) snapped the scoreless tie with four runs in the top of the third inning.

Drew McClaskey tripled and Aaron Dalton had an RBI single. Jonah Cox walked and Jonathan Joseph had a two-run double. Jordan Hairston then singled in a run.

River Valley got within 4-3 after four inings, but the Redmen scored three runs in the fifth to lead 7-3.

Cox singled, Jack Goodwin reached on an error and Joseph doubled home both runs. Corey Noel followed with an RBI single.

The Raiders got their final run in the bottom of the fifth. Gilbert was hit by a pitch and scored on an error.

Chance Blankenship went 3-4 as Rock Hill collected 11 hits.

Rock Hill 004 030 0 = 7 11 6

River Valley 002 110 0 = 4 5 2

Levi Wilds and Jordan Hairston. Trey Farley and Austin Barber. W-Wilds (K-7, BB-1, HBP-1, ER-1). L-Farley (K-4, BB-5, HBP-1). Hitting-RH: Aaron Dalton 1-4, Jonah Cox 1-2, Jonathan Joseph 3-4 3-2B, Jordan Hairston 1-4, Corey Noel 1-3, Chance Blankenship 3-4, Drew McClaskey 1-3 3B; RV: Austin Barber 1-4, Williams 1-4, Gilbert 1-2, Blankenship 1-3, Kemper 1-2.