Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

The Ironton Fighting Tigers won the battle but lost the war.

Ironton battled back from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game only to give up a run in the seventh inning as the Fighting Tigers fell to the Russell Red Devils 7-6 on Saturday.

“We made a nice comeback to tie the game. We need to improve our base running and not allowing so many walks and hit batters. We had some nice defensive plays,” said Ironton coach Larry Goodwin.

Cody Rawlins pitched well for Ironton. In five innings of work, he struck out three, walked three and allowed six hits. Only three of the five runs he allowed were earned.

Dane Wilson took the loss in relief. He struck out two, walked one and gave up two earned runs.

Russell starter Landon Brewer also went five innings. He struck out five, walked four, gave up three hits and two runs, one earned.

Russell went up 1-0 in the first inning.

Jacob McKee singled, went to second when Landon Brewer was hit by a pitch, took third on a double play and scored on a passed ball.

The lead went to 4-0 in the top of the fourth.

Chaz Whitt singled, Troy Gillum put down a sacrifice, Keelan Rice was hit by a pitch, McKee had an RBI double and Brewer singled for a run.

Ironton (9-7) got a run back in the bottom of the inning. Kyle Kleinman reached on an error, Ethan Duncan singled him to third and Cody Rawlins hit a sacrifice fly.

Russell scored an unearned run in the fifth when Casey Henlsey reached on an error, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on Whitt’s base hit.

Ironton came back with a run in its half of the inning.

Jake Isaac was hit by a pitch, Garrett Carrico singled, Isaac went to third when Klaiber hit into a double play and Larry Morris had an RBI single.

Russell (8-10) manufactured a run in the sixth as Rice walked, moved up on a wild pitch, took third on a ground out and scored on Brewer’s sacrifice fly.

Ironton answered with four runs in the sixth to tie the game.

Rawlins and Dane Wilson walked and Isaac singled to load the bases. Carrico, Klaiber and Kyle Kleinman all followed with RBI singles.

But Ironton couldn’t hold the lead in the seventh.

Nick Conley was hit by a pitch, Hensley put down a sacrifice, Tristan Vanderpool grounded out to send Conley to third base where he scored on Maxx Blackburn’s two-out single.

Carrico was 2-4 as the Fighting Tigers got six hits.

Ironton visits Chesapeake on Monday.

Russell 100 311 1 = 7 7 2

Ironton 000 114 0 = 6 6 1

Landon Brewer, Cole Cordle (6), Justin Manning (7) and Matthew Strother, Austin Brinkman (7). Cody Rawlins, Dane Wilson (6) and Bryce Thomas. W-Cordle (IP-1, K-1, BB-2, H-4, R-4, ER-4). Save-Manning (IP-1, BB-1). Brewer (IP-5, K-5, BB-4, H-3, R-2, ER-1). L-Wilson (IP-2, K-2, BB-1, H-1, R-2, ER-2). Rawlins (IP-5, K-3, BB-3, H-6, R-5, ER-3). Hitting-Rusl: Jacob McKee 2-4 rbi 2B, Landon Brewer 1-2 rbi-3, Tristan Vanderpool 1-4, Chaz Whitt 2-3 rbi, Maxx Blackburn 1-1 rbi; Ironton: Jake Isaac 1-1, Garrett Carrico 2-4 rbi, Hunter Klaiber 1-3 rbi, Larry Morris 1-4 rbi, Kyle Kleinman 1-3, rbi-2, Cody Rawlins rbi.