MARTINS FERRY — Don’t look now but Martins Ferry is on fire in high school softball.

The Purple Riders won their fourth and fifth games of the week with a Thursday doubleheader sweep of visiting Buckeye Trail to run their record to 8-3. They have done so in impressive fashion by clubbing 80 hits. They’re hit .457 and averaged 13 runs a game.

In the opener, the hosts prevailed 14-0 in four-and-a-half innings as Kelsi Gillespie struck out four and didn’t walk a batter in scattering three singles. She helped her own cause with two singles, an RBI and two runs scored.

Ava Doyle singled twice and doubled to plate a run. She also scored three times. Ella McFarland doubled twice, drove in a pair and also crossed the plate three times. Danielle Lude and Rylie Doyle each doubled in two runs.

Martins Ferry 14, Buckeye Trail 3

The hosts smacked 15 hits this game, including home runs by Ava Doyle, Maria Clark and Neaveh Hall. Clark finished with four ribbies as she also singled twice. Hall also had a single and ended up driving in two. Lude missed the cycle by a homer and drove in a run. Hunter Pollocl and Tyler Bell each singled twice, with Bell knocking in a run. Lauren McFarland had a two-run double.

Clark fanned three, walked a like number and allowed a trio of one-base hits.

Martins Ferry visits Union Local today before hosting Monroe Central Saturday for two games.

River 18, Bridgeport 1

AT BRIDGEPORT, the Pilots improved to 4-1 on the season by scoring six runs in second and adding six more in the third.

Josie Reed knocked in two runs with three singles to lead River’s 19-hit attack. Katie Rufener added three one-base hits and an RBI, while Rylee Knight singled twice, tripled and drove in a run. Lyndsey Huffman singled and tripled. Paige Barkes and Sofie Myers each added a three-bagger.

Brooke Stewart singled twice and doubled for the Bulldogs. Riley Bell had a pair of singles.

BASEBALL

St. Clairsville 13, Union Local 3

AT ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Red Devils completed the season sweep of the Jets Thursday in five innings.

Junior Drew Sefsick pitched a complete game with seven strikeouts en route to the win. He also had a RBI triple.

Senior Will Balgo hit a three-run home run. Classmate Tyler Tonkovich had two singles, a triple and a RBI. Luke Jozwiak had a single, double and two RBI. Frosh Mason Myers had a RBI single.

Union Local received a RBI single from Tre Rex and a RBI double by Ayden Smolira, while frosh Jake Toohey had a triple.

The Red Devils are now 5-2 and will host Cambridge today.

Martins Ferry 3, Bellaire 2, 8 inn.

AT MARTINS FERRY, Colin Snedeker singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth as the Purple Riders (4-2) outlasted the Big Reds high atop the Purple City.

Chase Goff doubled twice and accounted for an RBI.

Logan Smith went seven innings, striking out eight and walking three. Logan Meeker earned the win in relief with a punchout.

Jake Heatherington also hurled seven innings with six Ks and a walk.

Jake Dowling singled twice for Bellaire. Heatherington had an RBI single.

Martins Ferry visits Union Local today.

Shadyside 10, Steubenville Catholic 0, 5 inn.

AT SHADYSIDE, Korey Beckett fanned eight and issued a trio of free passes while twirling a two-hit shutout of the Crusaders at the Fleming Field Complex.

Jordan Joseph and Alex Baker evenly divided four singles, with Joseph driving in three runs and Baker two. Beckett, Nate Milhoan and Ben Wach added RBI singles. Ryan Florence chipped in an RBI.

An eight-run fourth sealed the deal.

River 7, Frontier 2

AT NEW MATAMORAS, the Pilots tallied five times in the fourth inning to blow open a 2-0 game.

Jake Rose singled twice and Brody Lollathin had a double for River.

Elijah Wayt and Hunter Nething combined on a two-hitter. Wayt struck out six and walked two in five innings. Nething had a walk in two innings.