Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — The funny thing about unearned runs, they still count.
The Coal Grove Lady Hornets didn’t mind that five of their runs were unearned in a 7-0 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers on Monday.
Forget the unearned runs. Kasey Murphy pitched a two-hitters and the Lady Hornets had 10 hits led by Lauren Crum who went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs batted in.
Murphy struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
Lauren Meyer went 2-3 and Addi Dillow 1-2 with two RBI for the Lady Hornets.
Coal Grove took a first inning lead with three unearned runs.
Meyer walked, Gracie Riley singled and Crum reached on a one-out error as Meyer scored. After a strikeout, Mckenzie Moore walked and Dillow had an RBI single.
The Lady Hornets added another unearned run in the second when Delaney Napier reached on an error, Meyer singled and Riley hit into a fielder’s choice as Napier scored.
Coal Grove extended its lead to 6-0 in the fourth when Meyer singled, Riley was safe on an error, Murphy lined out but Crum doubled home both runners.
The final run scored in the sixth on a two-out double by Murphy and singles by Crum and Jaidyn Griffith.
Peighton Rowe went 1-3 and Demi Sands 1-3 with a triple for Ironton (3-4, 1-3).
The two teams meet at Ironton on Wednesday. Ironton plays at Northwest on Tuesday.
Ironton       000    000    0    =    0    2    3
Coal Grove    310    201    x    =    7    10    2
Mary Beth Burton, Peighton Rowe (4) and Kenzie Cremeens. Kasey Murphy and Lauren Crum. W-Murphy (K-8, BB-0). L-Burton (IP-3.0, H-5, R-4, ER-0, K-1, BB-2) Rowe (IP-3.0, H-6, R-3, ER-2, K-3, BB-1). Hitting-Ironton: Peighton Rowe 1-3, Demi Sands 1-3 3B; CG: Lauren Meyer 2-3, Gracie Riley 1-4 rbi, Kasey Murphy 1-4 2B, Lauren Crum 3-4 2-rbi 2B, Jaidyn Griffith 1-4 rbi, Addi Dillow 1-2 2-rbi.