Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — First it was Cincinnati with The Big Red Machine. Looking at the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers’ lineup it could be The Big Orange Machine.
Nine different players had hits — 13 as a team — as Ironton beat the Coal Grove Lady Hornets 15-0 in a five-inning Ohio Valley Conference game on Monday.
“The girls were patient at the plate tonight and they were really hitting well,” said Ironton coach Missy Fields. “Rowe, Burton, Hamlet and Moore all had multiple hits.
“Moore also did well in the circle keeping them to just two hits. These girls love the game and are a lot of fun to watch.”
Keegan Moore pitched a two-hitter as she struck out eight and walked one. She also slugged a pair of solo home runs and drove in three runs.
Ironton (18-1, 10-0) had 13 hits with Taiya Hamlet going 2-4 with five runs batted in. Peighton Rowe was 2-4 with an RBI and Mary Beth Burton 2-2 and an RBI.
Kaleigh Murphy was 1-2 and Jaiden Griffith 1-2 with a triple for Coal Grove.
The Lady Tigers wasted little time by scoring four runs in the first inning.
Rowe and Burton walked and both moved up on a passed ball. Hamlet then got a two-run single.
Moore reached on an error as Hamlet scored. Moore then stole second and scored when Riley Schreck reached on an error.
Ironton got a run in the second when Kiandra Martin walked, Burton was hit by a pitch and the two pulled off a double steal. Hamlet grounded out as Martin scored.
The lead grew to 10-0 in the third inning.
Moore cranked a solo home run to lead off the inning. After Schreck hit a screaming liner back to the pitcher, Haylee Stevens walked and moved up on a ground out.
Martin walked and Stevens went to third on a passed ball. Martin and Stevens then pulled off a double steal for a run.
Rowe singled home Martin, Burton followed with a hit and both runners moved up a base and scored on Hamlet’s base hit.
Moore repeated her third inning at-bat by hitting a solo home run leading off the fourth.
Stevens then singled, stole second and third and scored on a passed ball.
Martin was hit by a pitch and Rowe and Burton followed with singles for a run.
Ironton’s final two runs scored in the fifth.
Demi Sands and Kendall Dodgion singled to start the inning and Shae Myers walked to load the bases. Kylee Richendollar and Martin then delivered RBI singles.
Ironton 415 32 = 15 13 0
Coal Grove 000 00 = 0 2 2
Keegan Moore and Demi Sands. Kaleigh Murphy, Lauren Crum (4) and Katie Deeds. W-Moore (K-8, BB-1). L-Murphy (IP-3.0, H-5, R-10, ER-8, K-2, BB-5). Crum (IP-2.0, H-8, R-5, ER-5, K-2, BB-1). Hitting-Ironton: Peighton Rowe 2-3 rbi, Mary Beth Burton 2-2 rbi, Taiya Hamlet 2-4 5-rbi, Demi Sands 1-4, Keegan Moore 2-3 2-HR 3-rbi, Kendall Dodgion 1-1, Haylee Stevens 1-2, Kylee Richendollar 1-4 rbi, Kiandra Martin 1-1 rbi; CG: Kaleigh Murphy 1-2, Jaiden Griffith 1-2 3B.