By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PROCTORVILLE — It was supposed to be a tournament game, but Chandler Fulks turned it into a career night.

Fulks pitched a one-hitter and hit a pair of home runs as the Fairland Lady Dragons beat the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers 6-1 on Friday in the Division III sectional finals.

“It was Chandler Fulks’ night,” said Fairland coach Joe Auxier. “She threw a one-hitter and hit the first two home runs of her career. She had quite a game.”

Fairland (18-7) will now play at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Unioto in the Division III district semifinals against top-seeded Lucasville Valley.

Ironton (15-7) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Emily Davis ­ — who had Ironton’s only hit — beat out a bunt single, moved around to third base when Saige Fields reached on an error and scored when the ball got loose in the outfield.

Fairland came back to tie the game in the bottom of the inning on a two-out solo home run by Fulks.

The Lady Dragons took the lead for good with two runs in the second inning.

Haley Woodall singled, went to second on a passed ball and scored on Chloe Stanley’s double. Caitlin Stone had a two-out RBI single to cap the rally.

Chelsey Stanley doubled and Fulks belted a two-run homer in the third inning and it was 5-1.

Fairland added an insurance run in the sixth.

Ellen Hinshaw was hit by a pitch, Napier singled and the runners moved up on a passed ball. Stone beat out a bunt single but a throwing error on the play allowed Stanley to score.

Stone and Fulks both went 2-3 as Fairland had 10 hits.

Ironton 100 000 0 = 11 1 2

Fairland 122 001 x = 6 10 3

Erin Wetzel, Rebekkah Potter (5) and Saige Fields. Chandler Fulks and Chloe Stanley. W-Fulks (K-8, BB-2, HBP-1, ER-0). L-Wetzel (K-1, BB-0, H-8, R-5). Potter K-4, BB-1, HBP-1, H-2, R-1, ER-0. 2B-Fairland: Chloe Stanley, Chelsey Stanley. HR-Fairland: Chandler Fulks. Hitting-Ironton: Emily Davis 1-3; Fairland: Chloe Stanley 1-3 rbi, Chelsey Stanley 1-4, Caitlin Stone 2-3 rbi, Kerie Napier 2-3, Ellen Hinshaw 1-2, Haley Woodall 1-3.