The Ironton Fighting Tigers were left wondering, “What if?”

Some mistakes and missed opportunities came back to haunt the Fighting Tigers in a 6-4 loss to the Wheelersburg Pirates Thursday.

“We made some mental errors and we didn’t hit well at times. When we put the ball in play, we made some things happen,” said Ironton coach Tobey Schreck.

“Our pitchers didn’t do a bad job, we just need to hit better and we need to execute on defense. We’re making too many mistakes.”

Wheelersburg (21-1) went ahead 2-0 in the first inning on singles by Andrew Elliott and Nick Kemper, a walk to Dakota Luster and Brandon Hall’s two-run single.

But Ironton (12-8) answered with two runs in the second inning to tie the game.

Jonathan Williams singled, Darren Dalton walked and “Tractor” Taylor Barker hit a line drive single to score Williams. An outfield error on the hit allowed Dalton to score.

The Fighting Tigers took a 3-2 lead with a run in the fourth inning when Williams doubled, Dalton put down a sacrifice and Chris Warner had clutch RBI single.

The Pirates were able to score twice in the fifth to take the lead for good at 4-3.

Elliott doubled and Kemper singled to put runners at second and third. Luster walked to load the bases and Ironton brought the infield up.

But when Brandon Hall hit a ground ball, the Ironton defense didn’t go home as planned for the force out, but instead threw to first base for the out as a run scored. Bryce Hall then hit a sacrifice fly to put the Pirates up.

Elliott hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth only to have Dalton slam a long home run to left field and it was 5-4.

The Fighting Tigers continued to threaten as Warner was hit by a pitch and Barker reached on an error off a hard-hit ball. But the next batter flied out to end the threat.

Wheelersburg added an insurance run in the seventh on an error, a walk and a two-out single by Austin Hall.

Ironton plays a noon doubleheader at Lucasville Vally on Saturday.

Wheelersburg 200 021 1 = 6 10 3

Ironton 020 101 0 = 4 6 1

Bryce Hall, Nick Kemper (5) and Caleb Leach. Jonathan Williams, Howie Lucas (6) and Ethan Preston. W-Hall (3-R, 4-H, 5-K, 2-BB). Save-Kemper (2-H, 1-R, 3-K, 1-BB, 1-HBP). L-Williams (4-K, 5-BB, 8-H, 4-R). 2B-Wh: Andrew Elliott, Bryce Hall; Ironton: Jonathan Williams. SF-Wh: Bryce Hall. HR-Wh: Andrew Elliott; Ironton: Darren Dalton. Hitting-Wh: Andrew Elliott 3-4, Nick Kemper 2-4, Austin Hall 2-3, Bryce Hall 1-1, Brandon Hall 1-4, Ryan O’Leary 1-4; Ironton: Jonathan Williams 2-3, Darren Dalton 1-2, Chris Warner 1-2, Taylor Barker 1-3, Keith Wetzel 1-3.