Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

ASHLAND, Ky. — The Ironton Fighting Tigers are like the gift that keeps on giving.

Ironton played giveaway the runs once again in an 8-1 loss on Friday to the Ashland Tomcats.

The Fighting Tigers trailed just 2-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning when they self-destructed and gave up six runs.

“We played well until the bottom of the sixth. We had two walks and three errors that helped our opponent score six runs,” said Ironton coach Larry Goodwin.

“We need to play a complete ballgame. We have to play seven innings start to finish. That is the bottom line.”

Ashland (13-13) got two runs in the second inning.

Evan Dickinson walked, Cody Thompson and Scott Busch singled to load the bases, a passed ball scored Dickinson and Braxton Ratliff hit a sacrifice fly.

Ironton (10-11) got within 2-1 in the fifth inning when Kyle Kleinman, Chase Rowe and Dane Wilson all singled.

But then came the sixth.

Dickinson walked, Thompson singled, Busch walked and Dickinson scored on a passed ball.

Tanner Runyon and Chas Jackson reached on errors to score runs. Braxton Ratliff was hit by a pitch, Zach Greene hit a sacrifice fly and Cody Bennett was safe on an error for a run.

Ironton hosts Portsmouth on Monday and Nelsonville-York on Wednesday in sectional tournament play Both games are at 5 p.m.

Ironton 000 010 0 = 1 5 4

Ashland 020 006 x = 8 4 1

Cody Rawlins, Chase Rowe (6) and Bryce Thomas. Jake Lewis, Cameron Conley (6) and Cody Thompson. W-Lewis (IP-5, K-5, BB-2, H-4, ER-1, HBP-1). Save-Conley (IP-2, K-2, BB-0, H-1, HBP-1). L-Rawlins (IP-5.1, K-5,BB-6, H-4, R-8, ER-5, HBP-1). Rowe (IP-0.2). Hitting-Ironton: Dane Wilson 1-3 rbi, Kyle Kleinman 2-3, Cody Rawlins 1-2, Chase Rowe 1-2; APB: Zach Greene 1-3 rbi, Cody Thompson 2-3, Scott Busch 1-2, Braxton Ratliff rbi, Cody Bennett rbi-2, Tanner Runyon rbi, Chas Jackson rbi.