Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

GALLIPOLIS — The Ironton Fighting Tigers couldn’t afford to give runs away, but they did.
Ironton allowed four unearned runs in a 7-1 Ohio Valley Conference loss to the Gallipolis Blue Devils on Thursday.
Ironton couldn’t afford to give away runs because the Blue Devils’ Josh Faro allowed only one hit and struck out 14 in six innings of work.
Gallipolis went up 2-0 in the first when John Stout singled, Wyatt Sipple and Faro walked and then two wild pitches scored the runs.
The Blue Devils got two more runs in the third on a single by Garrett McGuire, Faro and Dakota Young were hit by pitches and a throwing error.
The lead went to 6-0 in the fourth.
Stout walked, Sipple doubled and a passed ball scored a run. McGuire walked and Faro grounded out as a run score.
The final Gallipolis run came in the sixth when McGuire singled, moved up on a ground out and scored on a hit by Braden Simms.
Ironton (0-2, 0-1) got its run in the seventh when Ethan Duncan singled, Brady Rowe hit into a fielder’s choice and Tanner Bowles reached on an error.
Ironton’s only other hit was a single by Gage Salyers in the sixth.
The Fighting Tigers hosts Chesapeake on Friday.
Ironton       000    000    1    =    1    2    2
Gallipolis    202    201    x    =    7    5    2
Garrett Carrico, Gage Salyers (5), Tanner Bowles (5) and Brycen Thomas. Josh Faro, Cole Davis (7) and Morgan Stanley. W-Faro (IP-6.0, H-1, K-14, BB-1). L-Carrico (IP-4.0, H-3, R-6, ER-2, K-4, BB-5). Salyers (IP-0.2, K-1, BB-3). Bowles (IP-1.1, H-2, R-1, ER-1, BB-1). Hitting-Ironton: Ethan Duncan 1-3, Gage Salyers 1-2; Gallia: John Stout 1-2, Wyatt Sipple 1-3 2B, Garrett McGuire 2-3, Braden Simms 1-4.