Once the Ironton Fighting Tigers got going, it brought the Portsmouth West Senators to a stop.

After falling behind 1-0, Ironton erupted for six runs in the third inning and went on to beat the Senators 9-2 Tuesday.

"We started a little sluggish, but once we started getting some hits we got things going," Ironton coach Mark Lewis said.

Josh Adkins swung the most productive bat for Ironton. In just his fourth game, Adkins went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer and five runs batted in.

"I'm starting to feel a little more comfortable. It's getting better every game," Adkins said.

Dennis Gagai hurled a complete game to get the win. He struck out seven, scattered seven hits and did not walk a batter although he did hit three.

West (5-7) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Tyler Journey reached on a catcher's interference call, stole second and came home on a hit by Trevin Coleman.

But Ironton finally got its bats started in the third inning.

Chad Miller singled, Brigham Waginger beat out an infield hit, Chris Rakes walked to load the bases, and Adkins had a two-run single.

Gagai got a base hit and Dustin Preston singled home two runs. Patrick Kouns reached on a fielder's choice, moved to second base on a balk and scored on a base hit by Ryan Walker.

The lead went to 8-1 in the fourth inning when Waginger was hit by a pitch and Adkins slammed a home run.

West got a run back in the fifth inning. Matt Auger was hit by pitch, stole second and scored on a double by Cody McGraw.

The Fighting Tigers completed the scoring in the sixth inning when Rakes doubled, went to third on a throwing error and scored when Adkins hit a sacrifice fly.

Ironton, 6-5, hosts Lawrence County, Ky., at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Ports. West0100100=271

Ironton006201x= 991

Cody McGraw and Nathan Brandenburg. Dennis Gagai and Dustin Preston. W-Gagai 1-1 (7-K, 0-W, 3-HBP), 1-ER. L-McGraw (3-K, 3-W, 8-ER). HBP-by McGraw (Waginger, Kouns), by Gagai (Auger, Stevenson, Morgan). SB-West: Tyler Journey, Jared Swords, Matt Auger; Ironton: Josh Adkins, Chad Miller, Patrick Kouns, Brigham Waginger 2. SF-Ironton: Josh Adkins. 2B-West: Cody McGraw; Ironton: Chris Rakes. HR-Ironton: Josh Adkins. Hitting-West: Jared Swords 1-4, Matt Auger 1-3, Levi Morgan 1-3, Steven Kelly 1-3, Cody McGraw 1-3, Tyler Journey 1-2, Trevin Coleman 1-3; Ironton: Brigham Waginger 1-3, Chris Rakes 1-3, Josh Adkins 2-2 (5 RBI), Dennis Gagai 2-3, Dustin Preston 1-4 (2 RBI), Ryan Walker 1-3 (RBI), Chad Miller 1-3. Records: Ironton 6-5, West 5-7.