2nd inning rally sparks Vikings past Falcons
- Staff
- Apr 18
- 2 min read
MINFORD — Solid pitching and a big offensive rally in the second inning proved to be the difference as the Symmes Valley Vikings blanked the Minford Falcons 8-0 on Thursday night in a non-conference game between Southern Ohio Conference teams.
Braden Hankins picked up the win for Symmes Valley (6-3). Hankins went the distance, allowing 4 hits, walking a batter and striking out 6 in the game.
The Vikings offense was highlighted by Hankins who finished 2-3 with a double and an RBI, and Will Jones who went 2-4 with a triple and 2 runs batted in. Justin Fields went 1-2 and 2-RBIs, Bronx Carpenter went 1-4, Tanner Thompson went 1-4 and 2 RBIs, Tanner Corn went 1-3, and Andy Strow went 1-2.
The Vikings loaded the bases in the second with two outs. Then Carpenter reached on an error, scoring Hankins. Then Thompson singled into short right to bring home Fields and Gradee Holland.
Jones smacked a triple into right field to score Carpenter and Thompson and make it 5-0.
Symmes Valley got 3 more insurance runs in the fifth as Hankins helped himself out with a double to score a run. Then Fields followed up with a single to drive home Strow and Hankins.
The Falcons (4-3) made their biggest push in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases with one out after Evan Richards reached on a fielders' choice and Carter Frazie and Pierce Banks singled.
Hankins was able to get out of the jam, getting the next Minford batters to fly out to second and ground out to first to end the inning.
Jack Shoemaker took the loss for the Falcons. The senior went 4 and 2/3 innings, giving up nine hits, three earned runs, walked two batters and stuck out one.
The Vikings travel to McDermott on Monday to face Northwest in a critical SOC showdown.
Sym. Valley 050 030 0 = 8 9 1
Minford 000 000 0 = 0 4 3
Braden Hankins and Will Jones. Jack Shoemaker, Jacob Vititoe (5) and J.D. Matiz. W-Hankins (IP-7.0, H-4, R-0, ER-0, K-6, BB-1, WP-0). L- J. Shoemaker (IP-4.2, H-9, R-8, ER-3, K-1, BB-2, WP-0). Vititoe (IP-0.1, H-0, R-0, ER-0, K-1, BB-0, WP-0). C. Donahoe (IP-Hitting- 2.0, H-0, R-0, ER-0, K-0, BB-0). Symmes Valley: Bronx Carpenter 1-4, Tanner Thompson 1-4 2-RBI, Will Jones 2-4 2-RBI 3B, Tanner Corn 1-3, Andy Strow 1-2, Braden Hankins 2-3 RBI 2B, Jackson Fields 1-2 2-RBI; Minford: J.D Matiz 1-3, Mason Bradley 1-3 2B, Carter Frazie 1-3, Pierce Banks 1-3.