Parkersburg South's Annie Shelton scores the first run of the game during the Patriots' 4-0 Mountain State Athletic Conference victory versus Parkersburg on Tuesday evening at Godbey Fields. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

PARKERSBURG — Krista Durkin’s three-hit performance wasn’t quite enough for visiting Parkersburg here Tuesday evening at Godbey Fields as Parkersburg South’s Annie Shelton put on a dominating performance inside the circle to help lead the Patriots to a 4-0 Mountain State Athletic Conference victory.

“We’re gelling and we’re coming together really good,” admitted PSHS head coach Tim Burch, who watched his squad improve to 10-3 with a road trip up next at 5:30 p.m. Friday to South Charleston. “We know that this game is always going to be a tough game no matter who is good or who is bad.

“No matter what the records are, it’s going to be a tough game. We fought through and we did what we needed to do. We won. This season started off trying to find our way and we’re finding our way, and trying to get a little further on. We’re doing well and I’m proud of the kids.”

Aside from the left-handed hitting first baseman Durkin reaching on singles to left, center and right in the first, fourth and sixth frames, respectively, the Big Reds (5-9) of head coach Erica Cameron had just two more hits – a Brynn Frye leadoff single to open the affair and then a three-bagger by No. 9 hitter Danica Coffman to start the third.

“That’s what we told them when we just broke down at the end of the game,” added coach Burch, who watched Shelton walk two and record 18 strikeouts. “We had some adversity that we faced in the game.

Parkersburg South's Jaiden Vargas went 1-for-3 with a run and a double during the Patriots' 4-0 Mountain State Athletic Conference victory versus Parkersburg on Tuesday evening at Godbey Fields. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“They had some kids on base with nobody out, one out and stuff like that. We didn’t put our heads down. We just went to work and we did what we were supposed to do. The whole team did that so it’s really great.”

Frye’s single to open the affair was followed by a Kendall Kimes strikeout. Although Durkin singled to left and runners were on second and third following an error, Shelton fanned losing pitcher Camella Cooper (4 IP, 2 BB, 3 SO) and catcher Gabby Dennis to escape.

The two-hole hitting Shelton opened the bottom of the first with a single and moved up two bases on a wild pitch. South got the only run it ended up needing when Shy Hays nearly left the park, but the ball was dropped in the outfield.

Coffman’s triple via a shot to right over the outfielder’s head had the Big Reds in business. However, Coffman was thrown out at the plate while trying to score following a wild pitch.

PHS, which plays host at 5 p.m. today to John Marshall, had the bases loaded with nobody out in the fourth. Durkin’s single back up the box was followed by a Cooper free pass and then Dennis bunting one back to the pitcher as she reached on a fielder’s choice after Shelton started to throw the ball to third for the forceout, but didn’t.

Parkersburg's Camella Cooper fouls off an offering from Parkersburg South pitcher Annie Shelton during the Patriots' 4-0 Mountain State Athletic Conference victory versus Parkersburg on Tuesday evening at Godbey Fields. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Addi Cameron, who worked a clean fifth and sixth inside the circle while recording a trio of punchouts, had the first chance, but she went down swinging as did JoJo Wilson and Eva Baillargeon.

Parkersburg South’s three-run fourth was more than enough for Shelton, who struck out the final six batters she faced.

Jaiden Vargas led off the fourth with a double and Mia Archer then walked. Annalynn Windland’s RBI single to right made it 2-0 as Allison Curfman then took one for the team off her helmet. Addison Moon’s run-scoring single pushed it to 3-0 and Shelton’s RBI single to center put PHS in the 4-0 hole.

“We’re just trying to keep their heads up when they do fail because they are going to fail. That’s just the way it goes,” added coach Burch. “They have to prepare for the next not failure, but for the next victory and that’s what we are trying to do.

“They are doing well with that. I think they are staying together. They like each other, which means a lot, and having fun too at the same time.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

Parkersburg South 4, Parkersburg 0

WP: Annie Shelton 7IP, 5H, 0R, 0ER, 2BB, 18SO

LP: Camella Cooper 4IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 3SO

Addi Cameron 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 3SO

Parkersburg (5-9) hitting: Brynn Frye 1-4; Krista Durkin 3-3; Danica Coffman 1-3, 3B

Parkersburg South (10-3) hitting: Shelton 2-3 R, SB, RBI; Shy Hays RBI; Jaiden Vargas 1-3 R, 2B; Mia ARcher R; Annalynn Windland 1-3 RBI; Allison Curfman R; Addison Moon 1-2 RBI

Next games: John Marshall at Parkersburg 5 p.m. Wednesday; Parkersburg South at South Charleston, 5:30 p.m. Friday.