Petersburg survives Keyser's rally, wins 9-7

KEYSER, W.Va. — Tuesday's game between two of the area's top three teams featured a little bit of everything.

After 20 combined hits, 16 runs including three home runs, a near miraculous comeback and some controversy, No. 3 Petersburg held off No. 2 Keyser for a 9-7 road victory.

"The big thing were the home run balls," Petersburg manager Bubba Hedrick said. "Lacey (Moyers) was our first tonight, kinda just broke the ice a little bit for us. Miley Tingler with the big shot that really put us up and kinda got our momentum going."

Petersburg, which averages an area-leading 12.1 runs per game, brought a 9-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

The Golden Tornado (14-4) scored five runs to pull closer, but the tying run was stranded on base.

"They're always a spectacular hitting team," Keyser skipper Cody Spotts said of Petersburg. "There's no doubt about it. Leighton (Johnson) shut them down for three innings or so, but they made the adjustments they needed to and took the pitches that were there. And it showed, they put them out and put them out in a hurry."

The final frame wasn't without some controversy.

With the bases loaded and nobody out, Keyser's Mady McIntyre hit a ground ball to center.

One run scored, then the second runner collided with the catcher at home plate and was called out.

"The ball carried her to the line, where she was blocking the plate," Spotts said of the umpire's explanation. "Not to get into it too much, I didn't agree. But it is what it is."

On the following play, a fly ball bounced off the right fielder's glove for two runs.

A sacrifice fly and an Aleah Smith single cut the deficit to 9-7 with two on and two out.

A fielder's choice ended the comeback attempt three pitches later.

"There at the very end, we were more patient, more selective at the plate," Spotts said. "Took the pitches we were given, taken it where we need to. Drew a few walks there and that was the biggest thing. We were more patient there in that last inning."

The Vikings (20-3) scored eight runs across the final three innings.

Petersburg hit three home runs including two in the top of the fifth.

Trailing 2-1, Moyers hit a solo blast to center field.

Four batters later, Tingler sent a three-run dinger deep to right center to give the Vikings a 5-1 lead.

Tingler finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs, a walk and a stolen base.

In the top of the seventh, Ella Markwell drilled a two-run tater to dead center.

Petersburg's other runs came on an error, a wild pitch and Ella Chew's double in the seventh.

Chew went 2 for 3 with a double.

"We mentioned to the girls, there's three phases," Hedrick said. "You got the first part of the game, which we didn't win. That goes to Keyser. But we really emphasize that middle part. That's kinda where we got it started and the big home run ball just kinda got the girls into it a little more."