MARTINS FERRY — Freshman Elijah Smith blasted a three-run homer to end things in the bottom of the fifth as the Purple Riders (8-5) kept their OVAC Class 3A playoff hopes alive.

Turner Krol singled in two runs while Alex Reese singled twice and plated a pair. Baron Lucey doubled.

Ayden Ludolph picked up the win with eight strikeouts. He allowed a leadoff single and no other hits.

St. Clairsville 15, Union Local 5

St. Clairsville 9, Union Local 4

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Red Devils ran their record to 14-0 with a doubleheader sweep of Union Local on Memorial Park.

In the completion of a suspended game from last week, St. Clairsville scored six times in the top of the seventh to pull away.

Caleb Keenan, Mikey Balgo and Rowyn Mellott each drove in two runs.

Logan Hess had three singles and an RBI for Union Local.

In the regularly scheduled contest, Colton Florence pitched into the seventh as the hosts completed the sweep. He fanned six and walked one.

Braylen Blomquist knocked in three runs with a pair of singles. Keenan singled twice and doubled.

Peyton Causby hit a two-run homer for Union Local.

Indian Creek 6, Cambridge 0

MINGO JUNCTION — Sylus Hyde struck out seven and allowed three hits in five innings as the Redskins (11-3) blanked the visiting Bobcats (8-3).

Logan Pownall singled, doubled twice and drove in three runs for Indian Creek. Hunter Rusnak singled and doubled.

River 5, Monroe Central 3

HANNIBAL — A four-run bottom of the fourth was all the Pilots needed to defeat the visiting Seminoles.

Kaden Hunt singled twice to drive in two runs for River. Hunter Nething singled, doubled and fanned one to get the mound win.

Preston Binegar singled in a run for Monroe Central, as did Dylan Landefeld.

SOFTBALL

Martins Ferry 10, Toronto 7

TORONTO — The Purple Riders (10-2) scored six times in the top of the width to rally past the host Red Knights.

Averie Hughes singled twice and drove in three runs for the winners. Giana Chirpas had a two-run single and Maddie Lucas singled twice to knock in one run.

Charlene Anderson drove in four runs for Toronto.

Harrison Central 15, Union Local 4

MORRISTOWN — The Huskies struck quick against the Jets, scoring 13 times in the first three innings.

Emma Skinner singled three times to drive in three runs and also scattered seven hits and fanned four to lead Harrison Central. Isabel Yeager slugged a single, double and home run to drive in two runs. Kaily Banal also drove in three runs.

Lauren Miller singled twice and plated a run for Union Local. Laken Vinskovich had a two-run double.