It was a great start. It was an even better finish.

Jackson started the game with two home runs, but Ironton scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat the Iron Ladies 10-9 Thursday in a Southeastern Ohio Athletic League game.

“When your opponent starts the game with two home runs, it takes a little wind out of you,” said Ironton coach Missy Fields.

“I was really proud of the girls tonight for not giving up. This is the first time this year that we have battled back from a deficit and came out with a victory.”

Ironton had 10 hits with Edi Taylor going 3-4, Kelsey Bronson 2-3, and Nikki Harbolt and Brea Tackett 2-4. Tackett also had a standup triple.

“We did a little better at the plate tonight. We asked Tackett to try a different bat recently and since then she has been pound the ball.”

Sara Jones got the win despite seven errors by the Ironton defense. Jones struck out nine and walked six in going the distance.

Jackson led 5-1 when Ironton erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 7-5 lead.

The Lady Tigers scored twice in the sixth to make it 9-5, but Jackson got four runs in the top of the seventh to tie the score.

But Ironton pushed across a run in its half of the inning to win.

Ironton clinched second place in the SEOAL South Division. Gallipolis won the division with its only loss coming at the hands of Ironton.

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Ironton0016021=10107

Parker and Danner. Sara Jones and Kelsey Bronson. W-Jones (9-K, 6-BB). L-Parker (9-K, 2-BB). 2B-Jackson: Joseph; Ironton: Kelsey Bronson. 3B-Ironton” Brea Tackett. HR-Jackson: Childers, Joseph. Hitting-Jackson: Childers 3-5, Joseph 2-4, Parker 1-2, Rippith 1-3, Moore 1-1; Ironton: Edi Taylor 3-4, Kelsey Bronson 2-3, Nikki Harbolt 2-4, Brea Tackett 2-4, Jessica Brown 1-3.

Wednesday’s Game

It was Summers time in springtime.

Kylie Summers pitched a four-hit shutout as the Ironton lady Fighting Tigers blanked the Chillicothe Lady Cavaliers 7-0 Wednesday in a Southeastern Ohio Athletic League game.

Ironton managed eight hits and used a big five-run fifth inning to blow the game open.

“We struggled some at the plate tonight for a while. It was tough facing Rock Hill’s (Bobbi) Harper and then slowing it way down against Chillicothe,” said Ironton coach Missy Fields.

“The girls struggled to getting their timing back. It is hard to teach patience, but our girls hung in there and finally came around.”

Ironton got some key contributions from the bottom of the lineup as Jessica Brown went 2-3 and Brea Tackett 1-1 with a triple. Emily Lilly added a double.

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Downing and Uhrug. Kylie Summers and Kelsey Bronson. W-Summers (1-K, 3-BB). L-Downing (0-K, 2-BB). 2B-Ironton: Emily Lilly. 3B-Ironton: Brea Tackett. Hitting-Chillicothe: Dempson 1-3, Shelby 1-3, Miller 1-3, Lloyd 1-3; Ironton: Edi Taylor 1-4, Kelsey Bronson 1-3, Nikki Harbolt 1-3, Emily Lilly 1-3, Janie Morris 1-3, Brea Tackett 1-1, Jessica Brown 2-3.