Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

There’s something about that nickname.
The Ironton Fighting Tigers keep living up to the name “Fighting” as they battled back in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally for a 9-8 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Portsmouth Trojans on Thursday.
Ironton manufactured the tying run and then Collin Freeman singled home the winning run with two outs to cap the seventh inning rally.
The Trojans went up 1-0 in the first inning on a walk to Bryce Wallace, a ground out and a double by Isaac Kelly.
Ironton came back to tie the game in the second inning when Tanner Bowles walked and Joel Blankenship and Reid Carrico singled.
The Fighting Tigers took a 4-1 lead in the third inning.
Brycen Thomas led off with a walk, Garrett Carrico singled and Bowles had a two-run double. Bowles scored on a wild pitch.
Ironton added a run in the fourth when Reid Carrico walked, stole second took third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Freeman.
But Portsmouth scored five runs in the fifth to take a 6-5 lead.
With one out, William Sturgill singled and Reece Johnson hit a two-run homer.
Kelly singled, Devin Jackson was hit by a pitch and Zach Kinney drew a two-out walk. Michael Duncan hit a ground ball that was booted for an error as three runs scored.
The Trojans made it 8-5 with two runs in the top of the sixth.
Wallace walked, Sturgill put down a sacrifice bunt, and Johnson grounded out. Kelly walked and stole second and both runners scored on a throwing error.
Ironton got two of the runs back in the bottom of the inning.
Blankenship walked, Bret Ashley doubled and Thomas walked to load the bases. Cameron Deere then reached on an error as two runs scored.
Trailing 8-7, Bowles led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk and went to second on a wild pitch.
Ayden Barnes grounded out sending Bowles to third and he scored on a passed ball to tie the game.
Reid Carrico and Ashley both walked and Freeman delivered a two-out RBI single to drive in Carrico.
Ashley got his first career win with two innings of relief work. He struck out one, walked three, gave up one hit and one of the two runs he allowed were earned.
Garrett Carrico worked the first five innings and was a victim of tough luck. He struck out seven, walked four, gave up just four hits and only three of the six runs he allowed were earned.
Ironton hosts South Point on Friday.
Portsmouth 100 052 0 = 8 5 3
Ironton 013 102 2 = 9 6 6
Isaac Kelly and Hayden Yeradi. Garrett Carrico, Brett Ashley (6) and Collin Freeman. W-Ashley (IP-2.0, H-1, R-2, ER-1, K-1, BB-3). Carrico (IP-5.0, H-4, R-6, ER-3, K-7, BB-4). L-Kelly (K-10, BB-8, ER-7). Hitting-PHS: William Sturgill 1-3, Reece Johnson 1-4 HR 2-rbi, Isaac Kelly 2-3 2B rbi, Jake Workman 1-3; Ironton: Garrett Carrico 1-4, Tanner Bowles 1-2 2B 2-rbi, Joel Blankenship 1-3, Reid Carrico 1-2 rbi, Gage Salyers 1-1 2B, Collin Freeman 1-3 2-rbi.