Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Trojans did a lot with a little. However, the Ironton Fighting Tigers used a lot to do a whole lot more.
Portsmouth had only five hits but took advantage of 10 walks. Ironton countered with 15 hits and outscored the Trojans 19-12 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Monday.
Leading the Ironton hit parade was Ethan Duncan who went 3-for-5 with a double and four runs batted in. Collin Freeman was 3-5 and Ryan Ashley was 2-3 with three RBI.
Both Cameron Deere and Jacob Sloan 2-4 and three RBI.
Ironton (9-11, 6-6) went up 4-0 in the top of the first inning.
Kyle Howell walked, went all the way to third on a throwing error and scored on a hit by Cameron Deere.
After a force out, Duncan doubled home Brycen Thomas all the way from first base. Ashley walked and Gunnar Crawford singled home Duncan. Ashley scored on Beau Brownstead’s sacrifice fly.
Portsmouth (5-13, 2-9) answered with nine runs in the bottom of the inning on just two hits.
The first four batters walked for a run and Roe singed in a run. Daewin Spence was safe on an error as a run scored. A walked and an error scored a run and two more walks forced in a run.
Jack Workman was hit by pitch to drive in a run and a wild pitch scored the final run.
Ironton got two runs back in the second.
Sloan singled, Howell and Thomas walked and Duncan singled in a run. Ashley walked to force in the second run.
The Fighting Tigers regained the lead with five runs in the third.
Brownstead was safe on an error and Collin Freeman singled. Sloan lined into a double play but Howell walked and Deere singled home both runners. Thomas walked and Duncan singled to drive in two more runs.
Duncan stole second, went to third on Ashley’s infield hit and scored on the throw to first.
Ironton added a run in the fourth when Freeman singled, Sloan was hit by a pitch, Howell put down a sacrifice, Deere walked and Freeman scored on a wild pitch and it was 12-9.
Portsmouth got two runs in the fifth.
Caeleb McGraw walked, William Sturgill singled, both moved up on a wild pitch, Workman hit a sacrifice fly and Hayden Yerardi singled for a run.
The Fighting Tigers came right back with seven runs in the sixth to blow the game open.
Howell and Deere both reached on errors and Thomas had an RBI single. Duncan walked but Ashley got a two-run single.
Richard Thompson drew a two-out walk and Freeman singled in a run and Sloan singled home two runs and a third run scored on the throw back into the infield.
Portsmouth added a run in the seventh when Workman doubled and scored on two wild pitches.
Ironton 425 107 0 = 19 15 2
Portsmouth 900 020 1 = 12 5 6
Nolan Schreck, Collin Freeman (1), Kyle Howell (1), Ashton Duncan (7) and Brycen Thomas. Daewin Spence, Hayden Yerardi (4), Jack Workman (5), William Sturgill (6) and Caeleb McGraw. W-Howell (IP-5.1, R-2, ER-2, H-3, K-6, BB-3). Schreck (R-4, ER-4, BB-4). Freeman (IP-0.2, H-1, R-5, ER-0, K-1, BB-3). A. Duncan (IP-1.0, H-1, R-1, ER-1, K-2, B-1). L-Spence (IP-3.1, H-10, R-12, ER-12, K-7, BB-2) Yerardi (IP-0.2, BB-1). Workman (IP-1.1, H-3, R-5, ER-0, K-2, BB-2). Sturgill (IP-1.2, H-2, R-2, ER-2, K-2, BB-1). Hitting-Ironton: Cameron Deere 2-4 3-rbi, Brycen Thomas 1-3 rbi, Ethan Duncan 3-5 2B 4-rbi, Ryan Ashley 2-4 3-rbi, Gunnar Crawford 2-5 2B 2-rbi, Collins Freeman 3-5 rbi, Jacob Sloan 2-4 3-rbi; PHS: William Sturgill 1-3 rbi, Jack Workman 1-2 2B 3-rbi, Hayden Yerardi 1-4 rbi, Drew Roe 1-4 rbi, Ethan Boggs 1-4 2B 2-rbi.