Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

Kylee Metzger was locked in a pitcher’s duel with Coal Grove’s Kasey Murphy and needed some breathing room.

Metzger supplied her own oxygen to the situation with a two-run homer that helped the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers beat the Coal Grove Lady Hornets 6-3 on Saturday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Metzger helped her own cause when she unloaded on a 2-2 pitch and hit a two-run homer over the scoreboard in the three-run third inning that gave Ironton a 5-1 lead.

Metzger got the win as she allowed six hits, struck out two and did not issue a walk.

Murphy took the loss with a seven-hitter as she struck out eight, did not walk a batter but hit one.

“Coal Grove has a nice young team. Their pitcher is really good. We had a hard time with her pitches today,” said Ironton coach Missy Fields.

“We still have lots of work to do at the middle of our season. We’re playing them one at a time. It was a good win against a good team.”

Ironton (6-1, 2-0) had enough success to get seven hits led by Aley Carmon who was 2-for-3 and Kenzie Cremeens who went 2-for-4. Breanna Klaiber, Ariel Whitt and Metzger all went 1-for-3.

Coal Grove (4-1, 1-1) has six different players who went 1-3 including Lauren Myers, Deanna Bentley, Leah Crum, Mckenzie Moore, Racheal Webb and Murphy. Myers and Murphy each had a double.

The game was tied 1-1 after the first inning but Ironton took a 2-1 lead in the second and then put up three runs in the third.

On Monday, Ironton visits Chesapeake while the Lady Hornets host South Point in league games.

Coal Grove 100 002 0 = 3 6 3

Ironton 113 100 x = 6 7 1

Kasey Murphy and Gracie Riley. Kylee Metzger and Kenzie Cremeens. W-Metzger (K-2, BB-0). L-Murphy (K-8, BB-0, HBP-1). Hitting—CG: Lauren Myers 1-3 2B, Deanna Bentley 1-3, Kasey Murphy 1-3 2B, Leah Crum 1-3, Mckenzie Moore 1-3, Racheal Webb 1-3; Ironton: Kenzie Cremeens 2-4, Breanna Klaiber 1-3, Aley Carmon 2-3, Kylee Metzger 1-3 HR, Ariel Whitt 1-3.