By TODD REED

News Leader Sports Editor

Athena Spinell scored the game's only run on a throwing error and Erica Davis pitched seven strong innings in leading Minerva past Carrollton 1-0 in an NBC softball game played last week.

Davis gave up just five hits and two walks, while striking out two.

Spinell led off the bottom of the fourth with a base hit. The speedster stole second and was sacrificed to third by Brooke Preston. On the sacrifice bunt, the throw got away from the third baseman and Spinell sprinted home.

"We didn't hit real well, but this was our best defensive game of the year," commented Head Coach Ed Haught. "We committed no errors and executed a pick-off play with runners on first and third, getting the runner at home. We also threw a runner out at the plate from the outfield.

"Brooke had a real nice game behind the plate and Erica pitched another shutout. This win still gives us an outside shot at sharing the league title. Being 7-3 is pretty darn good in our league and we are happy with where we are. We let the Marlington game get away and that hurt us. We play both league leaders at home. If we can win those, we have a shot."

Jill Green was 1-for-3 with a stolen base and Tara Lawson was 1-for-2 with a walk.

Minerva trails league-leaders Canton South and Northwest by two games with four games to play.

Earlier in the week, the Lady Lions lost to Marlington 5-0.

Getting hits for Minerva were Spinell, Katie Worley, Elyse Brigham, Kourtney Betler and Katie Mihok.

Ashley Kerr pitched the first five innings, giving up five runs, four earned, on nine hits.

Davis came on in relief and pitched a perfect sixth inning.

"We had one error, but we also had three mental errors," noted Coach Haught. "We left the bases loaded in the first inning and that's not a good way to start. You can't afford to do that in this league."

The Alliance Division II district draw was held, with Minerva (9-9, 7-3) getting the eighth seed. They will host Marlington, the 11th seed, on Tuesday, May 13. The winner will travel to two-seeded Southeast on May 14.

In regular-season action, the Lady Lions were to face Canton South on May 6, before traveling to Louisville today (May 8).

treed@alliancelink.com