CHILLICOTHE — The pitching and defense stepped up.

So did the bat of Mercedes Crockrel.

Kylie Summers and Karlie Collins combined on a one-hitter and the defense had just one error as the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers beat the Chillicothe Lady Cavaliers 7-1 Monday in a Southeastern Ohio Athletic League game.

“Our defense is playing good ball right now,” said Ironton coach Missy Fields. “Our 2-0 start versus early games in years past can be attributed to the strength of the infield and how quickly they have come along.”

On the offensive side was Crockrel who went 3-for-4 at the plate including a double and a triple.

Six different batters had hits as Ironton got nine as a team. Jessica Brown went 2-4.

Ironton travels to Jackson Wednesday for a league game, hosts Gallipolis Thursday and visits Gallipolis on Friday.

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Kylie Summers, Karlie Collins (6) and Edi Taylor. Downing and Uhrig. W-Summers. L-Downing. 2B-Ironton: Mercedes Crockrel. 3B-Ironton: Mercedes Crockrel. Hitting-Ironton: Brea Tackett 1-3, Mercedes Crockrel 3-4, Janie Morris 1-3, Emily Lilly 1-3, Karlie Collins 1-4, Jessica Brown 2-4. Chillicothe: Lloyd 1-2.