When Josh Pancake gets on track, he really gets on track.

Pancake slammed a home run that landed on a passing train to ignite the Ironton Fighting Tigers’ 10-9 win over the Portsmouth Trojans Saturday in the second game of a doubleheader.

“I just told the other coaches that Pancake hasn’t really turned on a ball this year and that he was due. He stepped up and really tattooed it,” said Ironton coach Tobey Schreck.

Pancake’s home run was one of 14 hits Ironton needed to overcome 12 walks and a hit batsman that kept Portsmouth in the game.

Ironton lost the opener 7-3 to Portsmouth as the teams opened Southeastern Ohio Athletic League play.

Portsmouth took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Pancake’s home run followed a single by Darren Dalton and Jonathan Williams followed with a home run of his own to tie the game.

The Trojans scored a run in the top of the third on two walks and a double by Ryan Monroe. Ironton came back and scored four in the bottom of the inning.

Keith Wetzel and Williams doubled for a run, Chris Warner had an RBI single and scored on a hit by Anthony Harper.

The Fighting Tigers (4-1, 1-1) scored the deciding three runs in the fourth.

Dalton reached on an error, Wetzel singled and Pancake was safe on an error. Williams doubled for a run and “Tractor” Taylor Barker singled home two more runs.

Portsmouth got within 10-7 and scored twice in the seventh to make it a one-run game. But Pancake came on in relief and struck out two batters and enticed Monroe to fly out for the third out.

In the first game, Portsmouth scored five runs in the first inning on the strength of home runs by Josh Myers and Jeremy Scott and went on for the win.

Ironton got the run in the bottom of the inning on a walk to Keith Wetzel and Pancake’s double.

The Fighting Tigers got within 6-3 in fourth inning on walked to Dalton and Wetzel and Williams’ double.

Myers got the win as he allowed five hits, struck out five and walked five. Despite taking the loss, Ethan Preston settled down after the first inning. He gave up three hits over the final six innings and finished with eight strikeouts and six walks.

The final two Portsmouth runs were unearned.

Ironton plays at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Russell, Ky.

First Game

Portsmouth 500 110 0 = 7 7 1

Ironton 100 200 0 = 3 5 3

Josh Myers and Brennan Howard. Ethan Preston and Keith Wetzel. W-Myers (5-K, 5-BB). L-Preston (8-K, 6-BB). 2B-Portsmouth: Josh Myers, Jackson; Ironton: Josh Pancake. HR-Portsmouth: Josh Myers, Jackson. Hitting-Portsmouth: Josh Myers 2-5, Angelo Jackson 1-4, Ryan Monroe 2-3, Jeremy Scott 1-3; Ironton: Josh Pancake 1-3, Jonathan Williams 1-3, Chris Warner 1-3, Howie Lucas 1-3, Cameron Miller 1-1, Anthony Harper 1-2.

Second Game

Portsmouth 301 120 2 = 9 9 3

Ironton 304 300 x = 10 14 1

Jeremy Scott, Ryan Monroe (3), Levi Porter (4) and Brennan Howard. Keith Wetzel, Arron Easterling (5), Josh Pancake (7) and Darren Dalton. W-Easterling. Save-Pancake. L-Porter. 2B-Portsmouth: Adam Bray, Angelo Jackson, Ryan Monroe; Ironton: Jonathan Williams 2, Keith Wetzel, Anthony Harper. HR-Ironton: Josh Pancake. Hitting-Portsmouth: Josh Myers 2-4, Adam Bray 2-3, Angelo Jackson 1-4, Ryan Monroe 1-2, Jeremy Scott 1-2, Isiah Reeves 2-3; Ironton: Ethan Preston 1-4, Darren Dalton 2-4, Keith Wetzel 2-4, Josh Pancake 1-4, Jonathan Williams 3-4, Chris Warner 1-2, “Tractor” Taylor Barker 1-3, Anthony Harper 3-3.