By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

PEDRO — In a game of big plays, the Rock Hill Redwomen came up big.

Rock Hill turned in a strong defensive effort to tack the pitching of Sami Nixon as the Redwomen beat the Fairland Lady Dragons 4-1 Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“That was a big win. Both sides played well defensively. There were times when they had bases loaded and Sami got out of it. The defense made plays behind her,” said Rock Hill coach Mary Harper.

Nixon scattered seven hits, struck out seven and walked three in going the distance. Burcham came on in the first inning and struck out four, walked none and gave up two runs on five hits.

“Sami threw well and Burcham threw well. It was an exciting game and a well-played game,” said Harper.

Rock Hill is now 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the OVC. The Redwomen host South Point Monday in a showdown for first place. South Point is 5-1 and 1-0.

Rock Hill wasted little time by scoring twice in the first inning.

Morgan Damron walked, moved up on a wild pitch and Chelsea Harper slammed an RBI double. Morgan Schug and Brooke Hanshaw singled to load the bases and Dani Crabtree followed with a run-scoring single.

The Redwomen got a run in the second to lead 3-0.

BreeAnna Depriest reached on an error, Haylia Gannon put down a sacrifice bunt, and Depriest scored on a pair of wild pitches.

Fairland got its run in the third. Chandler Fulks doubled, Stormie Spitzer and Haley Woodall walked and Jaimie Phillips had an RBI single.

Rock Hill got an insurance run in the sixth inning when Courtney Duncan drilled a solo home run.

Nixon retired the side on four pitches in the seventh inning to end the game.

Chelsea Harper, Schug, Hanshaw and Crabtree each went 2-3 as Rock Hill collected nine hits.

Fulks went 3-3 for Fairland.

Fairland 001 000 0 = 1 7 2

Rock Hill 210 001 x = 4 9 1

Amber Bias, Sashe Burcham (1) and Chloe Stanley. Sami Nixon and Haylia Gannon. W-Nixon (K-7, BB-3). L-Bias (K-0, BB-1, H-4, R-2). Burcham K-4, BB-0, H-5, R-2. 2B-Fairland: Chandler Fulks; Rock Hill: Chelsea Harper. HR-Rock Hill: Courtney Duncan. Hitting-Fairland: Haley Woodall 1-3, Jaimie Phillips 2-4, Chloe Stanley 1-3, Chandler Fulks 3-3; Rock Hill: Chelsea Harper 2-3, Morgan Schug 2-3, Brooke Hanshaw 2-3, Dani Crabtree 2-3, Courtney Duncan 1-3.