CHESAPEAKE – Despite totaling only three hits, all three came at critical times as Nansemond River PONY defeated Kempsville 7-2 on Wednesday evening in a Mustang league (9-10 years old) sectional tournament game at Indian River Middle School.

Matthew Holt, already a pitching and slugging star from Nansemond River’s opening game on Tuesday, a 14-10 victory in which NR rallied with an 11-run fourth inning, did it again against Kempsville.

With NR down 2-0 and hitless going into the bottom of the third inning, Jon Joslin reached base on an error and Chris Henderson walked to set the table for Holt.

Holt launched a drive well over the left-centerfield fence for Nansemond River’s first hit of the game and a sudden 3-2 lead.

After giving up two runs in the top of the first, Joslin kept his side in the game on the mound. Joslin allowed three hits, worked around four walks and two hit batters, and had four strikeouts before being relieved during the top of the fourth.

Holt pitched three shutout innings to close the game on Tuesday and he came through in the same way, allowing no hits and one walk in 3.0 innings. Holt fired seven strikeouts and got his other two outs by picking off a runner on second base during the fourth inning and with one short pop-up to himself.

NR added plenty of insurance in the bottom of the fifth. Again it was the top of the order getting the rally started as Joslin walked and Chris Henderson singled, driving in Joslin with one out.

Kempsville hit Holt for the second time in the game, but NR’s clean-up hitter, Jarret Henderson, picked up the slack with a two-run double. Jarret Henderson stole third then scored, giving NR a 7-2 margin, on a Kempsville error on a ball hit by Zac Hawks.

The win puts Nansemond River one win from reaching the final game through the winner’s bracket. Nansemond River plays next at 8 p.m. on Friday at Indian River.