PROCTORVILLE — It wasn’t a one-man effort, but it was a nice effort by player.

Tyler Thackston pitched a four-hitter and went 3-3 at the plate as the Fairland Dragons beat the Ironton Fighting Tigers 5-1 Friday.

“Thackston had a heck of a game. He pitched and hit well,” Fairland coach Roger Snyder said.

Thackston struck out six, walked two, gave up four hits and no earned runs to get the win. Chris Barnett got the save in his first appearance of the season by getting out of a bases-loaded situation in the sixth inning.

Chad Miller took the loss despite a strong effort. He fanned eight and walked four in five innings of work.

“Chad deserved a better fate. He threw hard, we just didn’t make the plays behind him and we couldn’t get a clutch hit,” Ironton coach Tobey Schreck said.

Fairland took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Barnett beat out an infield hit, stole second base and scored on a double by Thackston.

The Dragons made it 2-0 in the third inning.

Zach Jordan walked to start the inning, Cole Hatfield hit into a force play and Nick Zundel walked. Barnett followed with a run-scoring single to right-center.

Ironton cut the deficit to 2-1 in the fourth inning.

T.J. Keith was safe on an error, stole second and rode home on a base hit by Wes Runyon who was 2-3 on the day.

But Fairland answered with two runs in the fifth inning with Ironton’s help.

Hatfield walked and Zundel beat out a bunt single when Ironton was unable to make the play on the sacrifice attempt. Barnett put down a sacrifice bunt and Thackston’s squeeze bunt scored Hatfield. A throwing error on the play allowed Zundell to score.

The final run came home in the sixth. Zach Matasich got a hit, stole second, took third when the throw went into the outfield and scored when Jordan laid down a squeeze bunt.

Ironton (1-2) hosts Chillicothe Monday in an SEOAL game. Fairland (4-0) plays at Rock Hill Monday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

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Chad Miller, T.J. Keith (6) and Tanner Reed. Tyler Thackston, Chris Barnett (6) and Tyler Godby. W-Thackston (6-K, 2-BB, 4-H, 0-ER). Save-Barnett (3-K, 1-BB). L-Miller (8-K, 4-BB). 2B-Ironton: Chad Miller; Fairland: Tyler Thackston. Hitting-Ironton: Chad Miller 1-3, T.J. Keith 1-3, Wes Runyon 2-3; Fairland: Nick Zundel 1-2, Chris Barnett 2-4, Tyler Thackston 3-3, Zach Matasich 1-3, Zach Jordan 1-2.