Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WHEELERSBURG — When you walked eight and give up four unearned runs, that’s not a good sign. And it wasn’t.
The Ironton Fighting Tigers did just that as they lost 11-1 to the Wheelersburg Pirates on Thursday.
The first inning was an omen of how the game would transpire.
The Pirates took a 5-0 lead in the first inning on a double by Trey Carter, singles by Connor Mullins and Cooper Mckenzie, a two-out error and four walks.
The Pirates got two runs in the second as one run scored on a balk and the other on a passed ball.
Ironton (1-2) got its only run in the top of the third when Jacob Sloan double, went to third on hit by Collin Freeman and scored on a passed ball.
Sloan and Freeman had the only two Ironton hits.
Three walks and a single by Jalen Miller produced three runs in the bottom of the third.
The final run scored in the fifth after a Carter double and singles by Connor Mullins and Lane Charles.
Ironton 001 00 = 1 2 2
Wheelersburg 523 01 = 11 10 1
Brycen Thomas, Jacob Sloan (2), Kyle Howell (4), Nolan Schreck (5) and Collin Freeman, Brycen Thomas (2). Drew Blair, Trey Carter (5) and Cooper Mckenzie, Braiden Cooper (4). W-Balir (IP-4.0, H-2, ER-0, K-3). Carter (IP-1.0, K-3). L-Thomas (IP-1.0, H-4, R-5, ER-2, BB_3). Sloan (IP-2.0, H-3, R-5, ER-4, K-1, BB-4). Howell (IP-1.0, K-2, BB-1). Nolan Schreck (H-3, R-1, ER-1). Hitting-Ironton: Jacob Sloan 1-1 2B, Collin Freeman 1-2; WHS: Trey Carter 2-3 2-2B 2-rbi, Connor Mullins 2-4 rbi, Jalen Miller 1-2, Lane Charles 1-1 rbi, Will Darling 2-3 2-rbi, Cooper Mckenzie 1-2 rbi, Jarrett Stamper 1-1 2-rbi.