By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

AID — Savannah Mart closed it out and Desiree Simpson hit it out.

Mart choked off a scoring threat in the top of the seventh inning and Simpson belted a game-winning walk-off home run in the bottom of the inning as the Symmes Valley Lady Vikings got a key Southern Ohio Conference win over the Northwest Lady Mohawks on Monday.

Mart came on in relief with 2 runners on base and hit a batter to load the bases. But she got a force out at home and struck out the next 2 batters to end the threat.

In the bottom of the inning, Emma Ridenour led off with a base hit, Brenna Tibbs beat out a bunt single and Simpson cranked the first pitch over the left field fence for a walk-off home run as the Vikings took a half-game lead over Northwest in the standings and avenged an earlier 10-6 loss to the Lady Mohawks.

“It was a great ball game and both my seniors stepped up big time,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep.

“Sav made me a little worried when she hit the first batter, but she wasn’t fazed. She went after them and got the job done. And Desiree came up clutch again. But that’s seniors for you.”

The Lady Vikings (11-6, 4-1) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Tibbs got a one-out single and scored when Simpson tripled. Marley Ferguson followed with an RBI single.

Northwest (8-3, 3-1) tied the game in the fifth.

Lauren Redoutey signed, Mollyann Runyon walked and then Brooklyn Hawes and Janeatte Mustain followed with RBI singles.

Neither team scored in the sixth to set up the thrilling finish.

Mart got the win in relief of Tibbs who worked 6-plus innings allowing 2 earned runs, 8 hits with 9 strikeouts and 2 walks.

Simpson was 3-4 with a triple, home run and 4 RBI while Mart was 3-3, Ferguson 2-3 and an RBI, Tibbs and Ridenour 2-4 and both Kaycee Thompson and Autumn Justice 1-3.

Redoutey was 3-4, Runyon 1-1, Hawes and Mustain 1-3 and both Alayna Balzer and Childers 1-4.

Redoutey took the loss as she gave up 5 earned runs, 13 hits with 4 strikeouts and no walks.

The Lady Vikings host Western on Wednesday in a league game.

Northwest 000 020 0 = 2 8 0

Sym. Valley 200 000 3 = 5 13 3

Lauren Redoutey and Brooklyn Hawes. Brenna Tibbs, Savannah Mart (7) and Kaycee Thompson. W-Mart (IP-1.0, H-0, R-0, K-2, BB-0, HBP-1). Tibbs (IP-6.0, H-8, R-2, ER-2, K-9, BB-2). L-Redoutey (IP-6.0, H-13, R-5, ER-5, K-4, BB-1). Hitting-Northwest: Lauren Redoutey 3-4, Mollyann Runyon 1-1, Brooklyn Hawes 1-3, Janeatte Mustain 1-3, Alayna Balzer 1-4, Childers 1-4; Symmes Valley: Desiree Simpson 3-4 3B HR 4-RBI, Savannah Mart 3-3, Emma Ridenour 2-4, Brenna Tibbs 2-4, Marley Ferguson 2-3 RBI, Kaycee Thompson 1-3, Autumn Justice 1-3.