By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

GALLIPOLIS — It took a while, but the Coal Grove Lady Hornets finally got their offense going.

Tied 4-4 after 5 innings, the Lady Hornets used a big sixth inning to beat the Gallipolis Blue Angels 9-4 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Thursday.

Coal Grove went up 1-0 in the top of the first when Abbie Deeds singled and went to second on an error and scored when Shay Collins reached on an error.

Gallipolis (2-10, 1-7) came back to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning.

Sarah Thomas tripled and scored when Reagan Skidmore reached on an error. Taylor Mathie followed with an RBI single.

The Lady Hornets took a 4-2 lead in the top of the third.

Deeds walked, stole second, went to third on a ground out and scored on a passed ball.

Izzy Kitts singled and scored on a triple by Rylee Black. Mia Haynes reached on an error as Black scored.

The Blue Angels got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Mathie doubled, Grace Truance singled and Colbie Nida was safe on an error.\

Gallipolis tied the game at 4-all in the fifth as Truance walked and both Nida and Emma Hammons reached on errors.

Coal Grove then erupted for 5 runs in the sixth for the 9-4 lead.

Kasey Vanderhoof singled, Braelie Hitchcock walked and Kendall Taylor had an RBI single. Collins singled in a run and both Kitts and Black followed with RBI doubles.

Deeds got the win as she gave up 7 hits, only one earned run with 9 strikeouts and one walk.

Kitts was 3-4 with a double and an RBI, Black was 2-4 with a double, triple and 2 RBI, Deeds 1-3, Collins 1-4 with 2 RBI, Vanderhoof and Hitchcock 1-3 and Taylor 2-4 with an RBI.

Coal Grove1030050=9118

Gallipolis     201 010 0 = 4 7 5

Abbie Deeds and Rylee Black. Taylor Mathie, Colbie Nida (7) and Grace Truance. W-Deeds (IP-7.0, H-7, R-4, ER-1, K-9, BB-1). L-Mathie (IP-6.1, H-8, R-7, ER-5, K-5, BB-3). Nida (IP-0.2, H-3, R-2, ER-2, K-2, BB-0). Hitting-Coal Grove: Rylee Black 2-4 2B 3B 2-RBI, Abbie Deeds 1-3, Shay Collins 1-4 2-RBI, Izzy Kitts 3-4 2B RBI, Kasey Vanderhoof 1-3, Braelie Hitchcock 1-3, Kendall Taylor 2-4 RBI; Gallipolis: Sarah Thomas 1-4 3B, Reagan Skidmore 1-4, Taylor Mathie 2-4 2B, Grace Truance 1-3,  Colbie Nida 1-4, C Waugh 1-3..