By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PORTSMOUTH — Thanks to the defense, the Ironton Fighting Tigers got the boot.

Ironton booted the ball around for four errors in a 6-1 loss to the Portsmouth Trojans on Monday.

“Battise pitched a pretty good game but we went through one of those periods where we just kept kicking the ball around,” said Ironton coach Tobey Schreck.

Derek Battise was the victim of the shoddy fielding. He worked 5.1 innings, struck out three, walked one, gave up eight hits and two of the three runs were earned.

Ironton (11-11) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Trevor Easterling singled, stole second base and scored on a hit by Battise.

Easterling was 3-3 for the game.

Portsmouth (5-15) got an unearned run in the fifth to tie the game. Len Collins reached second on an error, took third on a passed ball and scored on a hit by Brandon Wedebrook.

Ironton was guilty of two errors in the five-run sixth inning that included a hit batsman, a walked and just three singles.

Levi Porter got the win for Portsmouth as he gave up six hits, struck out two and walked one.

Ironton 100 000 0 = 1 6 4

Portsmouth 000 015 x = 6 9 0

Derek Battise, Jenkins (6) and Steve Easterling. Levi Porter and Tanner Poage. W-Porter (K-2, BB-1). L-Battise (IP-5.1, K-3, BB-1, H-8, R-3, ER-2). Hitting-Ironton: Trevor Easterling 3-3, Derek Battise 1-3, Cody Roberts 1-3, Brandon Leach 1-3; Portsmouth: Len Collins 1-3, Brandon Wedebrook 2-4, Hunter Gibson 1-4, Alex Grashel 1-2, Tanner Poage 1-2, Levi Porter 2-3.