By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

Karlee McMackin made her first home run one she won’t forget. Neither will her Ironton Lady Fighting Tiger teammates.

McMackin’s first career home run was a two-run walk-off blast that lifted Ironton to an 11-9 win over the Portsmouth Lady Trojans on Monday.

“Both teams hit the ball really well tonight. It was an awesome way to end the game with a walk-off home run by Karlee McMackin,” said Ironton coach Missy Fields.

“I can’t say enough about (pitcher Erin) Wetzel who continually throws strikes and trusts the defense behind her. She is just doing what we need her to do.”

Ironton (11-4) had 10 hits with Rebekkah Potter going 3-4 with a double. Laken White and Kassey Carmon also doubled and Saige Fields was 1-2.

Portsmouth got a run in the top of the first but Ironton answered with three in its half of the frame.

Emily Davis walked, stole second, went to third on Fields’ sacrifice and beat the throw home on Potter’s ground ball. Andi Kratzenberg reached on an error and White doubled in both runners.

The lead went to 5-1 in the second. Carmon singled, Davis walked, Fields had another sacrifice and Potter singled home both Davis and courtesy runner Ariel Whitt.

The Lady Tigers got two more runs in the fourth when Kelsey Hackworth singled, Carmon doubled and Fields and Potter had RBI singles.

Portsmouth used five hits, a walk and two wild pitches to score four times in the fifth and it was 7-5.

Swords hit a two-run homer and Simpson a solo shot as the Trojans got four more runs in the top of the sixth to lead 9-7. But Ironton answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.

Jordan Leach reached on an error, Davis walked and Potter and Kratzenberg had RBI singles.

Whitt reached on an error in the seventh and McMackin followed with her black of the fence in left-center.

Portsmouth 100 044 0 = 9 11 3

Ironton 320 202 2 = 11 10 2

Seison and Bonner. Kassey Carmon, Rebekkah Potter (5), Erin Wetzel (7) and Saige Fields. W-Wetzel (K-0, BB-2). Carmon K-3, BB-2. Potter K-1, BB-1. L-Seison (K-0, BB-4). 2B-Portsmouth: Bonner; Ironton: Laken White, Kassey Carmon, Rebekkah Potter. HR-Portsmouth: Swords, Simpson; Ironton: Karlee McMackin. Hitting-Portsmouth: Jenkins 2-2, Kitchen 1-3, Justice Swords 2-4, Simpson 2-3, Bonner 2-4, Stevens 1-4, Barnes 1-4; Ironton: Saige Fields 1-2, Rebekkah Potter 3-4 3-rbi, Andi Kratzenberg 1-4, Laken White 1-4, Karlee McMackin 1-4 2-rbi, Kelsey Hackworth 1-3, Kassey Carmon 2-2.