GALLIPOLIS — As Freddie Fender once sang, “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights.”

For the Ironton Fighting Tigers it was a case of too many wasted scoring chances and a wasted stellar pitching performance by Josh Pancake as they lost 3-2 in eight innings to the Gallipolis Blue Devils on Wednesday.

“Josh threw a great game, we just didn’t hit the ball when we needed,” said Ironton coach Tobey Schreck.

“We had plenty of chances. You’ve got to clutch up. But it’s still early. You hope those things work themselves out.”

The Southeastern Ohio Athletic League game was scoreless until the third inning when Darren Dalton was hit by a pitch, moved up on a passed ball, and scored on a base hit by Pancake.

Geoff White cranked a two-out solo home run in the fifth inning to give Ironton a 2-0 lead.

But Gallipolis (1-1, 1-0) tied the game with two runs in the sixth inning.

Beau Whaley was safe on an error, Ian Dressel singled and Kyle Dickess had a two-run triple.

Dickess tripled for the second time with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. After Terry Smith walked, Brett Bowman ended the game with a run-scoring single.

Ironton (1-1, 1-1) threatened in the top of the seventh on one-out walks to Dalton and Pancake, but two ground outs ended the rally.

The Fighting Tigers also missed on scoring chances earlier in the game.

Dalton singled and Pancake doubled with one out in the first inning, but Wandling struck out the next two hitters to end the inning.

Jonathan Williams singled and Howie Lucas walked with two outs in the second inning only to have the threat end on a ground out.

Pancake was 2-3 as Ironton managed just five hits.

Ironton 001 010 00 = 2 5 2

Gallipolis 000 002 01 = 3 8 0

Josh Pancake and Geoff White. Kruize Wandling and Terry Smith. W-Wandling (11-K, 6-BB, 2-ER, 1-HBP). L-Pancake (5-K, 1-BB, 2-HBP, 2-ER). Sac-Ironton: Jonathan Williams; Gallipolis: Austin Roush. 2B-Ironton: Josh Pancake. 3B-Gallipolis: Kyle Dingess 2. HR-Ironton: Geoff White. Hitting-Ironton: Darren Dalton 1-2, Josh Pancake 2-3, Geoff White 1-4, Jonathan Williams 1-2; Gallipolis: Austin Roush 2-3, Caleb Warnimont 1-4, Ian Dressel 1-4, Kyle Dingess 3-4, Brett Bowman 1-3.