By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

And the log jam has arrived.

The Coal Grove Lady Hornets used the 2-hit pitching of Abbie Deeds and clutch hitting of Braelie Hitchcock to edge the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers 3-1 on Wednesday and throw the Ohio Valley Conference race into a 3-way tie.

Ironton saw its 12-game winning streak snapped and fell to 17-5. Ironton, Coal Grove and Fairland are all 11-2 in the OVC. Fairland plays at Coal Grove (13-7) on Thursday while Ironton faced Rock Hill on Monday to wrap up the league games.

The Coal Grove-Fairland winner will be guaranteed at least a share of the title. Ironton needs a win to secure its share.

Ironton took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Khamil Martin drew a walk, Aubrey Ferguson put down a sacrifice bunt  and Layla Townsend got an RBI single.

Coal Grove tied the game in the third with 2 outs when Kasey Vanderhoof doubled and scored on a hit by Braelie Hitchcock.

The Lady Hornets had another 2-out rally in the fifth to take a 2-1 lead.

Mia Haynes singled, Vanderhoof walked and Hitchcock had her second RBI single.

Deeds gave herself an insurance run in the sixth with a one-out solo home run on a fly ball to right field.

Deeds struck out 6 and walked 2 in going the distance.

Braylin Wallace had a complete game for Ironton as she scattered 10 hits, struck out 7 and walked 3.

Hitchcock was 3-4 with 2 RBI and a double, Haynes 2-3, Deeds 2-4 with the home run, Kassidy Travis 1-2, Vanderhoof 1-3 with a double, and Shay Collins 1-4.

Townsend was 1-3 with an RBI and Wallace was 1-2 for Ironton.

Coal Grove 001 011 0 = 3 10 0

Ironton     100 000 0 = 1 2 0

Abbie Deeds and Rylee Black. Braylin Wallace and Graycie Brammer. W-Deeds (IP-7.0, H-2, R-1, ER-1, K-6, BB-2). L-Wallace (IP-7.0, H-10, R-3, ER-3, K-7, BB-3, HBP-1). Hitting-Coal Grove: Abbie Deeds 2-4 RBI HR, Shay Collins 1-4, Mia Haynes 2-3, Kasey Vanderhoof 1-3 2B, Braelie Hitchcock 3-4 2-RBI 2B, Kassidy Travis 1-2; Ironton: Layla Townsend  1-3 RBI, Braylin Wallace 1-2.