By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

FRANKLIN FURNACE — For someone who hasn’t pitched in many varsity games, Sean Lawless seemed to know his way around on the mound Tuesday.

Lawless pitched a six-hitter and Ironton came up with some clutch hits as the Fighting Tigers beat the Green Bobcats 5-4.

Lawless struck out two and walked only one in going the distance.

“For someone who hasn’t had much experience on the mound, he did a nice job,” said Ironton coach Tobey Schreck. “Green has a pretty good lineup of hitters. He gave up just six hits and only one walk. He did a pretty good job.”

Green took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a walk to Mike Avery, a Clay Applegate sacrifice, a singled by Rob Applegate and Cody Bruce’s sacrifice fly.

Ironton (4-2) took a 2-1 lead in the top of third inning.

Maurice Phillips reached on an error, Trey Spencer put down a sacrifice bunt and then Corey Kellogg walked and stole second. Steve Easterling followed with a two-run single.

The Bobcats (3-3) tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Rob Applegate was safe on a two-out error, stole second and rode home on a base hit by Bruce.

Green went up 3-2 with a run in the fourth when Steve Ratcliff and Adam Riffitt both reached on errors and Caleb Johnson hit a sacrifice fly.

The Fighting Tigers took the lead for good in the sixth inning with three runs.

Lawless and Jacob Friend singled and Phillips sacrificed them up a base. An out later, Kellogg singled home two runs and it was 4-3.

Kellogg moved up on the throw back to the infield and scored on Easterling’s base hit.

The Bobcats got a run in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out singled by Rob Applegate and Bruce’s double, but Lawless struck out the next batter to end the game.

Easterling was 2-3 as Ironton had seven hits off Johnson who struck out three and walked three.

Ironton plays at Symmes Valley Thursday and then faces Meigs at 1 p.m. on Friday at the University of Rio Grande.

Ironton 002 003 0 = 5 7 3

Green 101 100 1 = 4 6 1

Sean Lawless and Maurice Phillips. Caleb Johnson and Matt Howard. W-Lawless (K-2, BB-1). L-Johnson (K-3, BB-3). 2B-Ironton: Cody Roberts; Green: Cody Bruce. Hitting-Ironton: Corey Kellogg 1-3, Steve Easterling 2-4, Derek Battise 1-3, Sean Lawless 1-3, Jacob Friend 1-3; Green: Clay Applegate 1-3, Rob Applegate 2-4, Cody Bruce 2-4, Matt Howard 1-3.