By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

It was the Clash of the OVC Titans, and what a clash it was.

Ironton held the lead going into the final inning only to have the Fairland Lady Dragons tied the score. But the Lady Fighting Tigers came back in the bottom of the inning to score and take a key 5-4 Ohio Valley Conference win on Monday.

“Our girls bend but don’t break,” said Ironton coach Jim Dyer. “Wallace pitched a great game. She never got rattled. Top to bottom, our girls did a great job.”

Ironton is now 14-4 overall and 9-1 in the OVC. Fairland is 9-3 and 7-1 in the league. The Lady Dragons won the earlier meeting 11-1.

Ironton got the winning run with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.

With one out, Graycie Brammer beat out a single to the hole at shortstop, Khamil Martin was walked intentionally and Aubrey Ferguson hit a fly ball to center field that fell for a hit that scored Brammer.

Fairland had erased a 4-0 deficit with 4 runs in the top of the seventh inning.

With one out, Makena Black doubled, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on an error.

Hailey Sammons and Katy Bell walked and after a strikeout, Aubrey Hayes singled to drive in a run.

Kaylee Salyer followed with a 2-run double to tie the game.

Braylin Wallace struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Wallace pitched a complete game giving up just 4 hits with 17 strikeouts, 4 walks and 4 earned runs.

Salyer pitched a complete game for Fairland as she gave up 7 hits, 4 earned runs with 11 strikeouts and 4 walks.

Ironton took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Brammer doubled and Ferguson singled to drive in courtesy runner Aubrey Shavers.

The lead went to 3-0 in the second on a walk to Emily Weber and RBI doubles by Brammer and Martin.

The Lady Fighting Tigers went up 4-0 in the sixth  when Breagan Thomas was safe on an error and Bella Sorbilli lined a 2-out RBI double.

Brammer was 3-4 with 2 doubles and an RBI, Ferguson 2-4 with 2 RBI, Sorbilli 1-2 with a double and RBI and Martin 1-3 with a double and an RBI for Ironton.

Salyer was 1-4 with a double and 2 RBI, Black 1-2 with a double, Hayes 1-2 with an RBI and Jordan Spencer 1-3 for Fairland.

Fairland     000 000 4 = 4 4 2

Ironton     120 001 1 = 5 7 1

Kaylee Salyer and Makena Black. Braylin Wallace and Graycie Brammer. W-Wallace (IP-7.0, H-4, R-4, ER-4, K-17, BB-4). L-Salyer (IP-6.1, H-7, R-5, ER-4, K-11, BB-4). Hitting-Fairland: Kaylee Salyer 1-4 2-RBI 2B, Jordan Spencer 1-3, Makena Black 1-2 2B, Aubrey Hayes 1-2 RBI; Ironton: Graycie Brammer 3-4 RBI 2-2B, Khamil Martin 1-3 RBI 2B, Aubrey Ferguson 2-4 2-RBI, Bella Sorbilli 1-2 RBI 2B.