LOG MOUNTAIN — The Bell County Bobcats returned for their Florida trip and returned to the win column, kncoking off Claiborne, Tenn., 5-2 Monday.

Bobcat coach Rob Ledington said he was pleased with how the Bobcats played in Florida. Though they lost all four games, they were competetive.

“Those cats could play. We played two teams that had played in the state title game in the last decade,” he said. “Not to discredit Claiborne or anything, but they’re not the same caliber of team that we faced down there and our timing wasn’t quite right (Monday).

“We didn’t swing the bats real well, but we played defense and picked up a win.”

Bell got an RBI single from Kyle Nelson and a two-run double from Robbie Slusher in the first inning as they jumped on top 3-0.

Claiborne answered with two runs in the second as Jacob Holt singled and came around to score on walks to Dalton Coffey, Mark Estep and Josh Wigfield.

Bell starter Chase Ely was replaced by Adam Overbay and Casey Johnson grounded out to second to bring Coffey in.

Overbay kept the Bulldogs off the board for the next four innings as he scattered three hits and two walks while striking out six to get the win.

The Bobcats put up two inusrance runs in the fourth as John Dudley Hilton led off with a single and stole second.

Monte Merrick brought him home with a base hit and Overbay singled to score Merrick.

Spencer Greer pitched the seventh inning as he gave up a double to Brandon Wentz and struck out three for a save.

“Adam Overbay pitched a great game and Spencer came in and threw strikes

Matt Simpson had the only other hit for Bell.

Wigfield had two hits and a wald for Claiborne, while Matt Johnson also had a single.

Daniel Runions pitched pretty well in the loss for Claiborne. He walked three and struck out three while giving up five runs on six hits.

“It was a good game, we just didn’t stick the ball like we should have,” Bulldog coach Justin Cox said. “I felt like we defensively we played up to par with them.”

Bell County (3-5) hosts Knox Central today at 5:30 p.m.

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Claiborne 020 000 0 — 2 6 1

Bell County 300 200 x — 5 6 0

Runions, Wentz (6) and Wentz, Holt (6); Ely, Overbay (2), Greer (7) and Nelson. W — Overbay. L — Runions. Sv — Greer.

Photo: Bell County’s Adam Overbay delivers a pitch during Monday’s game. Overbay scattered three hits and a walk while striking out six over 4 1/3 innings to get a win over Claiborne, 5-2. He also had an RBI single. (JAY COMPTON/Daily News)