Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

GALLIPOLIS — The pitching and hitting were there, but as for the defense….
Three errors led to three unearned runs and the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers lost 5-3 to the Gallipolis Blue Angels in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Thursday.
Ironton (2-3, 0-2) got a run in the top of the first inning when Mary Beth Burton doubled, Peighton Rowe singled and Kenzie Cremeens grounded out.
Gallipolis came back to take the lead with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
Hunter Copley doubled, Chasity Adams and Bailey Meadows both reached on an error to score Copley and then Ryelee Sipple singled in a run.
The Blue Angels got a run in the second when Hailey Jo Ehman singled, moved up on a wild pitch, moved to third on a sacrifice and scored on a hit by Alex Barnes.
The lead went to 4-1 in the third. Meadows doubled and scored when Sipple was safe on an error.
Ironton got within 4-3 with two runs in the fifth.
Kiandra Martin led off with a single. After a force out, Rowe reached on a fielder’s choice and Cremeens, Demi Sands and Taiya Hamlet all followed with base hits.
Gallipolis got a run back in the bottom of the inning.
Sipple singled, was sacrificed to second and scored on a hit by Allie Young.
Ironton finished with 10 hits as Burton was 3-4 with a double and Sands 3-4 with two runs batted in.
Gallipolis also had 10 hits with Barnes and Copley 2-4 and Sipple 2-3.
Copley went the distance for the win. She struck out two, walked one and all three runs were earned.
Burton worked three innings and took the loss. She gave up six hits, four runs but only one earned, struck out four and did not walk a batter.
Ironton will host Gallipolis on Friday.
Ironton       100    020    0    =    3    10    3
Gallipolis    211    010    x    =    5    10    2
Mary Beth Burton, Peighton Rowe (4) and Kenzie Cremeens. Hunter Copley and Ryelee Sipple. W-Copley (ER-3, K-2, BB-1). L-Burton (IP-3.0, H-6, R-4, ER-1, K-4, BB-0). Rowe (IP-3.0, H-4, ER-1). Hitting-Ironton: Mary Beth Burton 3-4 2B, Peighton Rowe 1-4, Kenzie Cremeens 1-4 rbi, Demi Sands 3-4 2-rbi, Taiya Hamlet 1-4, Kiandra Martin 1-2; Gallia: Alex Barnes 2-4 rbi, Hunter Copley 2-4 2B, Chasity Adams 1-4, Bailey Meadows 1-3 2B rbi, Ryelee Sipple 2-3 rbi, Allie Young1-3, Hailey Jo Ehman 1-3.