Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — After going back and forth for a few innings, the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers decided to just move forward.
The lead changed hands three times over the first three innings before Ironton reliever Peighton Rowe shut down the Portsmouth bats and the Lady Tigers rallied for a 9-7 Ohio Valley Conference win on Wednesday.
Rowe worked the final four innings and gave up just three hits, struck out three, walked one and did not allow a run.
Ironton had 18 hits in the win led by Kenzie Cremeens who went 4-4 with three runs batted in and Mary Beth Burton who was 3-5 with a double and two RBI.
Haylee Stevens was 3-4 with two doubles, Kiandra Martin 2-3 and two RBI, and Rylie Vaughn, Demi Sands and Rowe all 2-4. Rowe also had two RBI.
Ironton took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when Stevens doubled, Martin singled, Holly Dutey walked and Burton doubled.
Portsmouth took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning on a three-run homer by Layla Kegg.
Ironton came back with two runs in the third to lead 4-3 as Cremeens, Sands, Rowe and Vaughn all singled.
The Trojans scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to go back on top 7-4.
The Lady Tigers got a run in the fourth when Burton reached on an error and Cremeens singled.
Ironton cut the deficit to 7-6 in the fifth on singled by Rowe, Stevens and Martin.
The Lady Tigers took the lead with two runs in the sixth.
Burton and Riley Schreck reached on errors and Cremeens and Sands had RBI singles.
Ironton added an insurance run in the seventh when Stevens doubled, Vaughn singled and Stevens stole home.
Ironton hosts Portsmouth Notre Dame on Thursday and South Point on Friday.
Ironton 022 112 1 = 9 18 4
Portsmouth 034 000 0 = 7 8 5
Mary Beth Burton, Peighton Rowe (4) and Kenzie Cremeens. Kylee Montgomery, LeighEra Tackett (5) and Jacqueline Bautista. W-Rowe (IP-4.0, H-3, R-0, K-3, BB-1). Burton (IP-3.0, H-5, R-7, ER-2, K-6, BB-1). L-Tackett (IP-3.0, H-4, R-3, ER-1, K-1). Montgomery (IP-3.0, H-14, R-6, ER-5, K-2, BB-1). Hitting-Ironton: Mary Beth Burton 3-5 2B 2-rbi, Kenzie Cremeens 4-4, 3-rbi, Demi Sands 2-4, Peighton Rowe 2-4 2-rbi, Haylee Stevens 3-4 2-2B, Kiandra Martin 2-3 2-rbi, Rylie Vaughn 2-4; PHS: Sharia Kearns 1-3, Jacqueline Bautista 1-3 rbi, Morgan Reedy 1-3 rbi, Kylee Montgomery 1-4, Shaya Kidder 2-4 2B rbi, Morgan Grashel 1-4, Layla Kegg 1-4 HR 3-rbi.