BEAVER — What could have been …

Seven errors in the first game proved too much to overcome as the Symmes Valley Vikings had to settle for a doubleheader split Saturday with the Eastern Eagles in Southern Ohio Conference play.

“We hit the ball and our pitching was good, we just had too many errors in one game,” Vikings coach John Patterson said. “If we don’t make those errors, we win both games.”

A late comeback bid fell short in a 6-5 first game loss in which the Vikings had seven errors. They bounced back to win the nightcap 5-4.

In the first game, the Vikings took a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Ethan Wilson singled, Brice Sexton was safe on an error and Cody Bland and Kyle Meadows followed with RBI singles.

Eastern came rallied for four runs in the second inning and the Vikings were guilty of two errors to allow four unearned runs.

The Vikings got a run back in the top of the fifth inning when Sexton singled, moved up on a ground out, and scored on a throwing error.

But Eastern got two runs in the bottom of the inning to lead 6-3.

Symmes Valley mounted a rally in the seventh only to fall short.

Hatfield reached on an error, moved to second base on a wild pitch and scored when Meadows doubled.

Brandon Bowling singled to drive in Meadows, but the next batter was retired to end the game.

The second game was a different story as the Vikings made just one error and held on to win 5-4.

The Vikings tied the game 2-2 in the third inning.

Sexton singled, Meadows doubled, Cody Bland had an RBI singled and Hatfield doubled in a run.

Symmes Valley took a 5-2 lead with three runs in the sixth inning.

Hatfield and Wilson singled and Chris Tibbs put down a sacrifice bunt. Bowling, Kirt Shipley and Sexton all followed with run-scoring singles.

Eastern scored twice in the top of the seventh inning and had runners at first and second with no outs. But Powell struck out one batter, and, after hitting batter, got a round out and pop out to end the game.

Symmes Valley (9-9, 7-5) hosts Portsmouth Clay Monday in a league game.

First Game

Sym. Valley2000102=5117

Eastern040020x=674

Jeremy Hatfield, Brice Sexton (5) and Cody Bland. B. Osborne and Babst. W-Osborne (6-K,0-BB). L-Hatfield (6-K, 4-BB). 2B-SV: Kyle Meadows, Chris Tibbs. Hitting-Symmes Valley: Robbie Powell 1-3, Ethan Wilson 1-1, Brice Sexton 1-4, Jeremy Hatfield 1-4,Cody Bland 2-4, Kyle Meadows 2-4, Brandon Bowling 1-4, Chris Tibbs 2-3; Eastern: Slone 1-3, Babst 2-4, Swigett 1-3, Ealer 2-2.

Second Game

Eastern1010002=460

Sym. Valley002003x=5121

A. Osborne and Babst. J.J. Huff, Robbie Powell (7) and Cody Bland. W-Huff (7-K, 6-BB). Save-Powell. L-Osborne (1-K, 1-BB). 2B-SV: Kyle Meadows, Jeremy Hatfield. Hitting-Eastern: A. Osborne 4-4, Slone 1-3, Brown 1-3; Symmes Valley: Robbie Powell 1-3, Brice Sexton 2-4, Kyle Meadows 2-4, Cody Bland 1-3, Jeremy Hatfield 2-3, Ethan Wilson 1-1, Brandon Bowling 1-1, Kirt Shipley 2-3.