Panthers win pitching duel as Bobcats fall in key SOC showdown

PORTSMOUTH — Each team had 4 hits, but it wasn’t about how many as much as it was when.

The Clay Panthers got their 4 hits at key times to back the 4-hit pitching of Evan Rider and shut out the Green Bobcats 4-0 in a Southern Ohio Conference 1 game on Monday.

Green suffered its first loss and is now 11-1 overall and 3-1 in SOC-1. Clay is 9-3 and 4-2 in the SOC-1.

"It was much like the last game, you had great pitching by both sides and offense was going to be limited,' said Green coach Dave Shoupe. "We just couldn't string enough plays together to get some runs, but we'll learn from this and bounce back."

Rider struck out 10 and walked 3 in going the distance for the win. Jon Knapp was equally to the challenge as he gave up just the 4 hits, struck out 10 and walked only 2.

Clay got a run in the third when London Sinclair reached on a fielder’s choice, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single by Rider.

The Panthers got a run in the fifth to lead 2-0.

Sinclair walked, moved up on a ground out and scored on a hit by Noah Woods.

The final two runs came in the sixth when Colby Secrist singled, Corey Williams was hit by a pitch, the runners moved up on a passed ball and a balk sent home Secrist and Cade Munion hit a sacrifice fly.

Gabe Blevins, Riddick Jenkins, Noah McMackin and Brennan Renison all went 1-3 for Green.

Green 000  000  0  =  0  4  0

Ports. Clay 001  012  x  =  4  4  1

Jon Knapp and Noah McMackin. Evan Rider and Noah Woods. W-Rider (IP-7.0, H-4, R-0, K-10, BB-3). L-Knapp (IP-6.0, H-4, R-4, ER-3, K-10, BB-2). Hitting-Green: Riddick Jenkins 1-3, Gabe Blevins 1-3, Brennan Renison 1-3, Noah McMackin 1-3; Clay: Evan Rider 1-3 RBI, Noah Woods 1-3 RBI, Colby Secrist 1-3, Corey Williams 1-2, Cade Munion RBI.