The Ironton Fighting Tigers found their home debut of the season to be a big hit.

About 18 of them.

Ironton banged out 18 hits en route to an 18-5 rout of the Gallipolis Blue Devils Thursday in a five-inning mercy rule win.

“It was just one of those days when we really hit the ball well up and down the lineup,” Ironton coach Mark Lewis said. “I think Gallipolis has some athletes and they’ll be a good team. You just have good days like this. Hopefully it will carry over to the next game.”

Dustin Preston led the onslaught as he went 4-for-4 with two doubles and four runs batted in. Tanner Reed was 3-4, Chad Miller and T.J. Keith 2-2, Trevor Allen 2-3 and Chris Rakes 2-5.

Gallipolis took a 3-0 lead to start the game on a pair of walks and a three-run homer by Luke Haislop.

But Ironton came back to get a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.

Rakes singled, Miller was hit by a pitch and Preston doubled them home.

Ironton (2-0) took the lead for good with four runs in the second inning.

Allen, Reed and Miller all singled for a run. Preston doubled to drive in a run and Dennis Gagai

and Keith each singled in a run.

The lead went to 9-3 in the third inning on singled by Reed, Rakes, Troy Allen and Preston along with Miller being hit by a pitch.

Ironton blew the game open with a six-run rally in the fourth inning to make it 15-3.

Keith walked and Kuehne, Allen and Reed all singled. J.J. Johnson reached on a fielder’s choice as a run scored. Miller and Preston followed with base hits.

Gallipolis pushed across a couple of runs in the top of the fifth inning on a walk, a hit by Haislop and an error.

Gagai went three innings for the win, Kuehne finished up.

“We wanted to get both of them some work. We need to get their arms in shape, especially Dennis,” Lewis said.

Gallipolis30002=532

Ironton2436x=15181

Jeff Golden, Matt Mooney (2), Nick Stevens (4), Luke Haislop (4) and Luke Haislop, Greg Russell (5). Dennis Gagai, Seth Kuehne (4) and Tanner Reed. W-Gagai 1-0 (2-K, 3-BB, 2-H, 3-ER). Kuehne 1-K, 2-BB, 1-H, 2-ER. L-Golden. 2B-Gallipolis: Austin King; Ironton: Chris Rakes, Dustin Preston 2. HR-Gallipolis: Luke Haislop. Hitting-Gallipolis: Luke Haislop 2-3, Austin King 1-2; Ironton: Chris Rakes 2-5, Troy Allen 1-3, Chad Miller 2-2, Dustin Preston 4-4 (4 RBI), Dennis Gagai 1-3, T.J. Keith 2-2, Seth Kuehne 1-3, Trevor Allen 2-3, Tanner Reed 3-4.