Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — It took a while for the Coal Grove Lady Hornets’ offense to get going. But that was OK. Kasey Murphy had things well in hand.
Murphy pitched a two-hit shutout as she struck out 12 and walked only two as the Lady Hornets blanked the Nelsonville-York Lady Buckeyes 8-0 in the Division III sectional tournament on Tuesday.
The game was scoreless through three and a half innings when Coal Grove scored twice in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good at 2-0.
The Lady Hornets settled the outcome with six runs in the sixth.
Addi Dillow, Macy Malone and Lauren Crum all had RBI singled in the rally while Gracie Riley doubled in a run.
Coal Grove banged out 13 hits with Jaidyn Griffith going 3-4 with an RBI. Dillow was 2-3 with an RBI and Malone was 2-3 with two runs batted in.
Riley was 2-4 with an RBI, Murphy also went 2-4 while Lauren Meyer and Crum both went 1-4.
Coal Grove hosts South Point at 5 p.m. Friday in the sectional finals.
Nelsonville 000 000 0 = 0 2 4
Coal Grove 000 206 x = 8 13 4
Kimberly Jones and Joscelyn Heller. Kasey Murphy and Lauren Crum. W-Murphy (K-12, BB-2). L-Jones (K-2, BB-0). Hitting-NY: Taylor Shockey 1-2, Madison Bullock 1-3; CG: Lauren Meyer 1-4, Gracie Riley 2-4 rbi, Kasey Murphy 2-4, Lauren Crum 1-4 rbi, Jaidyn Griffith 3-4 rbi, Addi Dillow 2-3 rbi, Macy Malone 2-3 2-rbi.