Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PROCRTORVILLE — That’s why they play seven innings.
Trailing 5-3 going into the final inning, the Ironton Fighting Tigers scored eight times to beat the Fairland Dragons 11-5 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.
Garrett Carrico went six innings for the win. He struck out nine, walked six — three in the first inning — and allowed just four hits.
Brycen Thomas pitched the seventh for the save. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out two.
“The team battled for all seven innings,” said Ironton coach Travis Wylie.
“Garrett Carrico showed his composure on the mound as a senior. We had several big hits in that last inning and it was a needed win for our team.”
Fairland jumped out to a 5-0 lead with five unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Jace Vonville was hit by a pitch, Reilly Sowards singled and Eli Bowen reached on an error. Darius Stapleton was hit by a pitch to force home a run but Carrico struck out the next two batters.
However, Kyle Rankin singled for a run and Bryan Defoe, Tayton Hunt and Vonville all walked to force in three more runs.
“It was a really tough loss for us. We were so close to getting our first win, but we couldn’t put the nail in the coffin,” said Fairland coach Alex Beelen.
Ironton scored twice in the third inning.
Carrico was hit by a pitch, Brycen Thomas and Gage Salyers singled for a run, Tanner Bowles was hit by a pitch and a throwing error allowed Thomas to score.
Ironton cut the deficit to 5-3 in the fifth when Carrico singled, Thomas hit into a force out, Salyers reached on an error and Bowles hit a sacrifice fly.
After a scoreless sixth, Ironton put together its big seventh inning rally.
Carrico doubled to open the inning and scored when Thomas reached on an error. Salyers and James Carter were hit by pitches to load the bases.
A throwing error scored Thomas and Reid Carrico doubled to drive in two runs and make it 8-5.
Collin Freeman and Cameron Deere followed with base hits for a run and Garrett Carrico was safe on an error as the final run scored.
Garrett Carrico went 2-3 with a double, Thoams was 3-5 with two RBI and Freeman 2-4.
The two teams meet at Ironton on Monday.
Ironton       002    010    8    =    11    10    1
Fairland    500    000    0    =    5    5    4
Garrett Carrico, Brycen Thomas (7) and Collin Freeman. Garrett Looney and Eli Bowen. W-Carrico (IP-6.0, H-4, R-5, ER-0, K-9, BB-6). Save-Thomas (IP-1.0, H-1, K-2, BB-1). L-Looney (ER-3, K-7, BB-1). Hitting-Ironton: Garrett Carrico 2-3 2B, Reid Carrico 1-4 2B 2-rbi, Cameron Deere 1-4 rbi, Gage Salyers 1-4 rbi, Brycen Thomas 3-5 2-rbi, Collin Freeman 2-4. FHS: Reilly Sowards 2-3, Kyle Rankin 1-4 rbi, Bryan Defoe rbi, Tayton Hunt 2-3 rbi