Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — After looking docile for three innings, Ironton coach Larry Goodwin began to see the fight in his Fighting Tigers.

Ironton started sluggish but finished strong as the Fighting Tigers rallied from an 8-5 deficit in the seventh inning to beat the Portsmouth Trojans 10-8 on Tuesday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We came out flat and just did not play well in any facet early in the game,” said Goodwin.

“We managed damage control during our bad innings so that we were able to stay in the game. I was pleased in how the players responded to being down and kept battling the entire seven innings.”

Hunter Klaiber and Luke Kelley began the big five-run seventh inning with singles.

After Kyle Kleinman lined out, Andy Bruce reached on an error to load the bases and Richard Crockrel singled for a run.

After a force out at home for the second out, Luke Diamond singled home a run and Dane Wilson followed with a two-run single to give Ironton its first lead.

Garrett Carrico capped the uprising with an RBI double.

Portsmouth scored twice in the first inning. Dylan Mullins reached on an error, Sky Oliver walked, a passed ball scored a run and Hunter Gibson grounded to score Oliver.

The lead went to 4-0 in the third when Mullins walked, Oliver had an RBI double and Gibson grounded out again as Oliver scored.

Ironton came off the mat and tied the game in the top of the fourth.

Kelley walked, Bruce and Crockrel singled, Tanner Price walked to force home a run, an error scored a run and Wilson singled in a pair of runs.

The Trojans regained the lead with two runs in the fifth.

Blake Wedebrook was hit by a pitch, Mullins singled, Oliver walked, a wild pitch scored a run and Gibson hit into a fielder’s choice as a run scored.

Ironton (3-1, 1-0) got a run back in the sixth on singles by Crockrel and Diamond and Wilson’s sacrifice fly.

But the Trojans got two runs in the bottom of the inning to lead 8-5.

Reese Johnson was hit by a pitch, Mullins walked, Michael Potts singled in a run and Wedebrook grounded out as a run scored.

Ironton spanked 16 hits led by Wilson who was 2-4 with five runs batted in, Diamond who was 3-5 with an RBI and Crockrel who went 3-4 with an RBI.

Carrico and Klaiber were 2-5 and Kelley 2-3.

Diamond got the win in relief as he worked the final three innings.

Diamond, Carrico and starter Cody Rawlins combined to limit Portsmouth to just four hits.

Ironton visits Rock Hill on Friday in a league game.

Ironton 000 401 5 = 10 16 3

Portsmouth 202 022 0 = 8 4 3

Cody Rawlins, Garrett Carrico (3), Luke Diamond (5) and Hunter Weber, Luke Kelley (3). Ryan Williams and Zach Delotell. W-Diamond (IP-3, K-, BB-1, R-2, ER-2, H-1). Rawlins (IP-2, K-4, BB-1, H-1, R-2, ER-0). Carrico (IP-2, K-1, BB-3, ER-4, H-2). L-Williams (K-6, BB-2, ER-6). Hitting–Ironton: Luke Diamond 3-5 rbi, Dane Wilson 2-4 rbi-5 SF, Garrett Carrico 2-5 2B rbi, Hunter Klaiber 2-5, Luke Kelley 2-3, Andy Bruce 1-4, Richard Crockrel 3-4 rbi, Tanner Price 1-3 rbi; Portsmouth: Dylan Mullins 1-3, Sky Oliver 1-2 rbi, Reese Johnson 1-2, Michael Potts 1-3 rbi.