SOUTH POINT — With runners in scoring position, Dustin Preston didn’t give it another thought.

Preston did less thinking and more hitting Tuesday by going 2-for-3 with a home run and a double as he drove in six runs to lead the Ironton Fighting Tigers to a 9-2 win over the South Point Pointers in the Division III sectional tournament.

“I quit thinking so much and just went up there swinging,” Preston said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a day like this.”

Preston and his teammates banged out 14 hits as they improved to 11-8 on the season.

Chad Miller went 3-4 with a home run, two doubles and a pair of RBIs while Dennis Gagai also went 3-4 and picked up the save. T.J. Keith was 2-4.

“We hit the ball well up and down the lineup. It was nice to get our offense going. Hopefully it will carry over to Friday,” Ironton coach Mark Lewis said.

The Fighting Tigers now play at Wheelersburg Friday at 5 p.m. in the sectional finals.

With the game scoreless after two innings, Ironton mounted a rally in the top of the third.

Chris Rakes drew a one-out walk and Dennis Gagai beat out a hit in the hole at shortstop. Preston unloaded a three-run homer.

Chad Miller followed with a solo shot and Ironton led 4-0.

“I had two strikes so I just choked up and tried to make contact. Actually, the pitch was a little outside,” Miller said.

Ironton added a run in the fourth inning on singles by Rakes and Gagai and a sacrifice fly by Preston.

The lead ballooned to 9-0 in the sixth inning as Ironton scored four more runs.

Rakes walked, Gagai singled him to third and took second base on the return throw from the outfield. Preston spanked a double to drive in both runners.

Miller and Tanner Reed followed with doubles to drive in the final two runs.

South Point avoided the shutout with two runs in the seventh inning.

Heath Bridges and Chris Brown doubled for one run and Anthony Ross singled home Brown for the second run.

Rakes got the win with 4.1 innings of work. Gagai finished up to get the save.

Ironton0041040=9142

South Point0000002=251

Chris Rakes, Dennis Gagai (5) and Dustin Preston. Justin Smith, Trent Moore (3), Anthony Ross (6) and Tyler Smith. W-Rakes (3-K, 2-BB, 2-H). Save-Gagai (1-K, 1-BB, 2-ER). SB-Ironton: T.J. Keith, Chris Rakes. Sac-Ironton: Tanner Reed. SF-Ironton: Dustin Preston. 2B-Ironton: Chad Miller 2, Dustin Preston; South Point: Kyle Hughes, Chris Brown. HR-Ironton: Dustin Preston, Chad Miller. Hitting-Ironton: Chris Rakes 1-3, Dennis Gagai 3-4, Dustin Preston 2-3 (6 rbi), Chad Miller 3-4 (2 rbi), Troy Allen 1-4, Tanner Reed 1- (rbi), T.J. Keith 2-4, J.J. Johnson 1-4; South Point: Chris Brown 1-4 (rbi), Anthony Ross 1-3 (rbi), Trent Moore 1-4, Kyle Hughes 2-2.