Williamstown's Kyla Myer makes contact during the Yellowjackets' 16-10 setback to Ripley on Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

WILLIAMSTOWN — Ripley second-year skipper Franklin Howerton got a quality start from Haleigh Parsons and the Vikings worked around six errors here Saturday afternoon in a 16-10 win versus Williamstown, which trailed 9-0 entering the fourth.

The 7-15 Yellowjackets of boss Ron Stanley, who celebrated his birthday along with WHS trainer Jamie Dearien, finally pushed a run across in the fourth when Elli Hanlon singled and scored on Kyla Myer’s hit to center.

Losing pitcher Kiersten Kerby opened the frame with a walk and was replaced by courtesy runner Sophia Adkins, who was thrown out at the plate after Hanlon’s single when Nevaeh Moore delivered a single only to be robbed of an RBI when center fielder Bristol Smith fired a one-hopper to catcher Aleigha Dunn.

Although Parsons issued a two-out walk to No. 8 hitter Inessa Buck, she got Lakyn Harshbarger to ground out to third baseman Camdyn Staats.

Ripley, now 6-11 with a home 6 p.m. tilt up next on Monday versus Herbert Hoover, was unable to mercy the ‘Jackets as leadoff hitter Shayle Montgomery singled, stole second and scored on Moore’s two-out single.

Williamstown’s Kiersten Kerby delivers a pitch during Saturday’s game against Ripley. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

In the final two innings, Ripley added seven runs with five in the ninth while the ‘Jackets got eight runs off relief pitcher Moriah Hatcher (two earned) that featured a five-run sixth.

Kerby was victimized by the first of five errors as Ripley took the lead for good with two unearned runs in the first when Smith and Lakyn Haile scored on an error.

Kalli Click, who had a fielder’s choice RBI in the third, tripled to open the second and it was 3-0 after Parsons helped herself with a run-scoring double to center.

The Vikings scored thrice in the third and fourth while managing just a single in each inning, and having an infield fly in both frames where one ball was dropped and the other landed behind a drawn-in infield.

Ripley pushed ahead 11-2 after tacking on a pair of runs in the sixth. Mia Howerton and Lexi Donohew opened the inning with consecutive walks before Kerby fanned Click and got Cara Spears to line out to left fielder Taytum Oates. Pinch-hitter Kassidy Wilson coaxed a free pass to load the bases for Smith, who laced a two-run single to center.

Williamstown's Taytum Oates attempts a sacrifice bunt during the Yellowjackets' 16-10 setback to Ripley on Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Williamstown, which heads Friday evening to Nitro, sent nine batters to the plate and was aided by three errors. Oates started the last of the sixth with a single and a stolen base. After Buck reached on an error following her strikeout, Harshbarger had an RBI fielder’s choice. Montgomery came through with a two-run triple via on opposite-field shot to right and crossed when Gracie Rush reached via error. The ‘Jackets closed it to 11-7 after Kerby followed with a double to right.

Addison Howery got the Viking seventh going with a walk as the Jackson County squad sent nine batters to the plate with Smith and Click delivering run-scoring singles and Donohew a two-run single.

The hosts scored all three of their runs in the seventh with two outs. Harshbarger singled and advanced to third on Montgomery’s two-bagger and it was 16-8 after Rush got on via an error. Kerby and Hanlon kept the rally going with RBI single, but Hatcher struck out Moore to end it.

Montgomery, Smith and Staats had three-hit afternoons while Howerton scored four times after reaching on an error, two walks and a hit by pitch.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com