Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

On a day when the strike zone must have seemed like it was a dart board, Nolan Schreck found a way to hit the target.
With starter Kyle Howell having a rare day struggling with his control, Schreck came on in the fifth inning and pitched one-run baseball to get his first career win and the Fighting Tigers outscored the Portsmouth Trojans 17-8 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Thursday.
Howell only gave up one hit and struck out six. But he gave up seven runs — five earned — due to 12 walks in 4.2 innings.
Schreck gave up three hits, struck out three, walked four and gave up one run.
Portsmouth pitcher Hayden Yeradi also had problems locating the plate with six walks. He struck out three and gave up 14 earned runs and 17 hits.
The Trojans took a 4-0 lead in the first inning on five walks and a double by Daewin Spence.
Ironton (6-7, 3-3) got a run back in the bottom of the frame when Gage Salyers reached on a fielder’s choice and Ethan Duncan and Cameron Deere singled.
The Trojans got a run in the second one two walks and a ground out but Ironton scored three times to get within 5-4.
Gunner Crawford was hit by a pitch, Will York had a sacrifice and Thomas doubled in a run. Howell walked and Salyers reached on an error as two runs scored.
The Fighting Tigers tied the game in the third when Collins Freeman singled, Crawford reached on an error and Ryan Ashley had an RBI single.
Portsmouth got single runs in the fourth and fifth to lead 7-5 but Ironton took the lead for good with five runs in the fifth.
Freeman, Crawford and Ashley all singled for a run. Thomas walked for a run, Howell singled for two runs and Salyers and Duncan had run-scoring singles.
The Trojans scored a run in the sixth to make it 10-8, but Ironton erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the inning.
Freeman walked, Crawford singled and Ashley walked to load the bases. Schreck walked to drive in a run and Thomas belted his second double to score two more.
Howell doubled in two more, Salyers singled and Deere had an RBI single to cap the scoring.
Ironton had 17 hits with Thomas 2-3 with two doubles and three runs batted in. Howell was 2-4 with a double and four RBI, Salyers was 3-5 with two RBI, Duncan 2-5 and an RBI, Deere 2-5 and two RBI, Freeman 2-3, Crawford 2-4 and Ashley 2-3 with two RBI.
Portsmouth 410 111 0 = 8 4 3
Ironton 131 057 x = 17 17 2
Hayden Yeradi and Caeleb McGraw. Kyle Howell, Nolan Schreck (5) and Brycen Thomas, Collin Freeman (5), Beau Brownstead (7). W-Schreck (IP-2.1, H-3, R-1, K-3, BB-4). Howell (IP-4.2, H-1, R-7, ER-5, K-6, BB-12). L-Yeradi (ER-14, K-3, BB-6). Hitting-PHS: William Sturgill 1-3, Jack Workman 2-rbi, Parker Johnson 1-3, Daewin Spence 2-3 2B 2-rbi; Ironton: Brycen Thomas 2-3 2-2B 3-rbi, Kyle Howell 2-4 2B 4-rbi, Gage Salyers 3-5 2-rbi, Ethan Duncan 2-5 rbi, Cameron Deere 2-5 2-rbi, Collin Freeman 2-3, Gunner Crawford 2-4, Ryan Ashley 2-3 2-rbi, Nolan Schreck rbi.