Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — Jacob Pierce isn’t perfect, but he’s consistent and that’s good enough for Coal Grove Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.

Pierce had his third strong outing of the season as he pitched 6.1 perfect innings before settling for a 5-2 Ohio Valley Conference win over the South Point Pointers on Monday.

“He’s been consistent. He’s had three starts and he’s gone seven innings each time,” said Mader. “He threw well. He mixed it up and (catcher) Jesse Rigsby called a good game and we played well defensively.”

The Pointers’ Alex Whitt threw well in defeat. In five innings, Whitt struck out six and walked just one.

Coal Grove (4-1, 1-1) got a run in the first when Daniel Rutherford hit a one-out solo home run.

“That kind of set the tone and got us going,” Mader said of the home run.

The Hornets came back to get two more runs in the second.

Sean Paulus reached on an error, Cole Gannon singled and Jeb Jones had an RBI single. After a double steal, Gannon scored on a passed ball.

The final two runs scored in the fifth when Jacob Myers and Jacob Clark singled and Rutherford had a two-run double.

South Point (3-1, 1-1) got two unearned runs in the seventh.

Tanner Hall drew a one-out walk and Whitt singled for the Pointers’ only hit. Logan Wade hit fly out but a throwing error from the outfield scored the runner. Chris Woodard reached on an error as the second run scored.

Rutherford was 2-for-3 with a double and home run. Rigsby, Gannon, Jones and Myers all had singles.

Coal Grove hosts Fairland on Wednesday. South Point has Fairview, Ky., at home on Tuesday.

South Point 000 000 2 = 2 1 3

Coal Grove 120 020 x = 5 7 2

Alex Whitt, Douglas Shaffer (6) and Christian Prichard, Johnthon Henline (6). Jacob Pierce and Jesse Rigsby. W-Pierce (K-9, BB-1, ER-0). L-Whitt (K-6, BB-1). Shaffer (K-1, BB-0). Hitting—SP: Alex Whitt 1-3; CG: Jacob Clark 1-3, Daniel Rutherford 2-3 2B HR, Jesse Rigsby 1-2, Cole Gannon 1-2, Jeb Jones 1-3, Jacob Myers 1-2.