By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PROCTORVILLE — Hits and runs are usually at a premium when the Ironton Fighting Tigers and Fairland Dragons play, so this game must have felt like a slugfest.

The pitching was still good and the runs really had to be earned but Ironton managed to get a 5-2 Ohio Valley Conference win on Wednesday.

Nate Bias and Trevor Kleinman combined on a 6-hitter for Ironton with Bias getting the win as he worked 5.1 innings allowing 5 hits, 2 earned runs with 7 strikeouts and 2 walks.

Kleinman went the final 1.2 innings for the save as he gave up an infield hit, struck out 2 and did not issue a walk.

“Bias pitched a really good game and got ahead of the hitters,” said Ironton coach Travis Wylie.

“We needed that win. I’m glad for our team and we’re looking forward to building off that and taking it one game at a time. We had seniors step up like Aldridge and Sheridan to make things happen.”

Tyler Sammons went 5-plus innings for Fairland and took the loss. He gave up 8 hits, 5 runs with 4 earned, struck out 3 and walked one. Blaze Perry went 2 innings as he struck out one and walked 2.

The game was scoreless until the top of the third when Trevor Kleinman drew a 2-out walk and scored on a double by Bias to put Ironton up 1-0.

The Fighting Tigers (5-5, 3-3) got a run in the fourth to make it 2-0.

Connor Kleinman and Peyton Aldridge singled with one out. Hunter Freeman grounded out but a throwing error on the play trying to get Kleinman at third base enabled him to score.

The lead went to 4-0 in the fifth inning on singles by Jon Wylie and Trevor Kleinman and a one-out double by Brady Moatz to drive home both runners.

Ironton got another run in the sixth when Aldridge led of with a double, went to third on a sacrifice by Freeman and scored when Matt Sheridan put down a squeeze bunt.

Fairland (5-4, 3-1) got its offense going in the bottom of the inning.

Niko Kiritsy hit the first pitch for a home run to left field. Blake Trevathan got a one-out double, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on an infield hit by Cooper Cummings that cut the deficit to 5-2.

Trevor Kleinman was 2-3 and Aldridge 2-3 with a double to lead Ironton’s offense. Bias was 1-4 with a double and RBI, Moatz 1-3 with a double and 2 RBI, and Wylie and Connor Kleinman each 1-4.

Fairland was paced by Kiritsy who was 2-3 with a home run and Trevathan who also went 2-3. Cummings was 1-3 with an RBI and Brycen Hunt 1-3.

Ironton 001 121 0 = 5 8 1

Fairland 000 002 0 = 2 6 2

Nate Bias, Trevor Kleinman (6) and Hunter Freeman. Tyler Sammons, Blaze Perry (6) and Cooper Cummings. W-Bias (IP-5.1, H-5, R-2, ER-2, K-7, BB-2). Save–T. Kleinman (IP-1.2, H-1, R-0, ER-0, K-2, BB-0). L-Sammons (IP-5.0, H-8, R-5, ER-4, K-3, BB-1, WP-1). Perry (IP-2.0, H-0, R-0, ER-0, K-1, BB-2). Hitting-Ironton: Jon Wylie 1-4, Trevor Kleinman 2-3, Nate Bias 1-4 2B RBI, Brady Moatz 1-3 2B 2-RBI, Connor Kleinman 1-4, Peyton Aldridge 2-3 2B, Matt Sheridan RBI; FHS: Niko Kiritsy 2-3 HR RBI, Blake Trevathan 2-3, Cooper Cummings 1-3 RBI, Brycen Hunt 1-3.