SALEM — Minerva built a five-run lead in the third inning and held on for an 8-2 win over Salem on Thursday in Eastern Buckeye Conference play.

Salem’s three hits were all singles.

Emilee Lewis took the loss for same with five strikeouts and five walks in four innings.

Delaney Sell was the winning pitcher with 13 strikeouts and a walk across seven innings.

Salem (1-2) is slated to host Struthers today.

MI: 1-2-2-0-1-0-1 — 8-4-0

SA: 0-0-0-0-0-2-0 — 2-3-3

Wheeling Central 5,

Columbiana 2

COLUMBIANA — Wheeling Central scored two unearned runs in the first inning and handed Columbiana its second straight loss, 5-2, Thursday at Firestone Park.

Erin Maxwell drove in three runs for the Knights, while Maddie Miehle had three hits, including a double, and scored two runs. Chloe Groome doubled and singled and Morgan Miehle singled twice.

Olivia Kiaski went the distance for the victory, striking out three with no walks.

Kyla Hogan and Callahan Ward each had two hits and scored a run for the Clippers. Josie Hepler and Natalie Barrow drove in runs.

Reagan Bell took the loss, giving up four runs, two earned, on six hits in four innings. She struck out four. Ella Eisenbraun pitched three innings, giving up one earned run and four hit with four strikeouts and one walk in three innings.

Columbiana (4-2) host Wellsville on Monday.

WC: 2-0-2-0-1-0-0–5-10-1

CO: 0-1-1-0-0-0-0–2- 7-2

Marlington 15,

West Branch 11

ALLIANCE — Marlington scored multiple runs in five innings to get past West Branch, 15-11, in Eastern Buckeye Conference play Thursday.

Chelsea Miller led the Dukes by going 5-for-5 with a home run and a triple, five RbIs and three runs.

Winning pitcher Justine Doringo was 4-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs, while Payton Peterson had two hits and four runs. Aaliyah Williams had three hits and Makenna Metz two.

Ellie Tucker topped the Warriors by going 3-for-3 with a triple, a double and three runs. Layla Carreon hit a solo home run and drove in another run with a sacrifice fly.

Marlington improves to 6-1 overall and 1-0 in the EBC, while West Branch drops to 2-4 and 1-1 in league play. The Warriors will play at Hubbard today.

WB: 1-0-4-1-1-1-3–11-11-3

M: 2-3-0-4-4-2-x–15-19-3

St. Thomas 18,

Leetonia 4

LEETONIA — St. Thomas Aquinas won for the seventh time in nine games by downing Leetonia, 18-4, in six innings Thursday.

Ariana Nelson and AyraBella Bacorn each scored four runs for the Knights.

Jocelyn Powell got the complete-game victory, giving up three earned runs on five hits with six strikeouts and one walk.

Payton Gray had a double and run for the Bears. Audrey Ellis-Russell and Kierstin Evans each had a hit, an RBI and a run.

Carli Simms started and gave up six runs, five earned in 1 1/3 innings. She struck out two and walked seven. Laniya Dubose pitched 4 2/3 innings in relief, giving up 12 runs, nine earned, on 10 hits with nine strikeouts and four walks.

Leetonia (0-8) will host Southern today.

ST: 3-3-0-5-1-6–18-11-4

LE: 3-0-0-0-1-0– 4- 5-3

Crestview 10, Struthers 0

COLUMBIANA — Freshman Gia Depace hit two home runs and drove in seven in leading Crestview to its seventh straight win, 10-0, over Struthers on Thursday.

The Rebels improve to 7-1 heading into Saturday’s game at Salem

Depace hit a grand slam in the fourth inning and a two-run shot in the sixth inning. She collected three hits in all and scored three runs.

Rylee Cloutier had two hits and scored three runs. Alivia Shetler tripled, singled and scored two runs.

Freshman Cassidee Buckley tossed a two-hitter, striking out nine with no walks over six innings.

Struthers (1-5) will visit Salem today.

S: 0-0-0-0-0-0–0-2-2

C: 2-0-1-5-0-2–10-9-0