Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PROCTORVILLE — The Ironton Fighting Tigers were trying to avoid that one bad inning.

Steven Easterling pretty much avoided any bad innings.

Easterling gave up only three hits and allowed two unearned runs as the Fighting Tigers edged the Fairland Dragons 4-2 in eight innings on Wednesday.

Easterling struck out 11 and walked three in seven innings. Derek Battise pitched the eighth for the save as he struck out two and gave up one hit.

“Steven pitched a good game today. Steven is a true competitor and he gives us a chance to win every time he takes the mound,” said Ironton coach Larry Goodwin.

“Derek did a fine job closing the game in the eighth. This was a good win for us. As a team, we avoided the one bad inning that has plagued us as of late.”

Kyle Raines pitched well in defeat. He went eight innings, struck out four, walked one, gave up just three hits and hit three batters.

“Raines threw well, we just didn’t make a couple of plays behind him,” said Fairland coach Bryan Ward.

Fairland took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Luke Phillips walked, stole second and scored on a pair of passed balls.

Ironton took a 2-1 lead with two runs in the fourth.

Derek Battise reached on an error, Mo Phillips walked, they moved up on a passed ball and scored on a hit by Sean Lawless.

The Dragons tied the game with a run in the bottom of the seventh by scoring in similar fashion to their first run.

Dylan Murphy walked, stole second and scored on two errors.

Ironton answered with two runs in the eighth.

Easterling was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored the go-ahead run in a hit by Luke Diamond. Aaron Stephens grounded out as Diamond went to second and scored on a hit by Battise.

Battise gave up a hit to Matt Aliff in the bottom of the inning, but he struck out two and got a fly ball to secure the win.

Ironton 000 200 02 = 4 3 1

Fairland 001 000 10 = 2 4 3

Steven Easterling, Derek Battise (8) and Mo Phillips. Kyle Raines and Garrett Scheiblehood. W-Easterling (K-11, BB-3, H-3). Save-Battise (K-2, H-1). L-Raines (K-4, BB-1, HBP-3) 2B-Fairland: Kyle Sowards. Hitting-Ironton: Luke Diamond 1-4 rbi, Derek Battise 1-4 rbi, Sean Lawless 1-4; Fairland: Kyle Sowards 1-4, Matt Aliff 1-3, Josh Ross 1-4, Collin Damron 1-3.