Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

The game had just nine hits, so there obviously was good pitching.

There were also nine errors, so obviously there were some unearned runs.

That was the case Monday as the Ashland Tomcats got past the Ironton Fighting Tigers 8-3 in a game that featured nine errors.

Ironton (1-3) had a 3-1 lead after four innings but errors helped Ashland score four times in the sixth and two more in the seventh.

“We played a good game for five and two-thirds innings,” said Ironton coach Larry Goodwin.

“We did not get timely hits when we needed them. We left the bases loaded twice. We also had a chance to put the game away and we just did not execute in the field.”

Steve Easterling was once again a tough-luck victim. He struck out eight, walked two and gave up just five hits, but Ironton was guilty of five errors behind him.

Evan Cox went the first five innings to get the win for Ashland (5-4). He struck out nine, walked three and hit a batter.

Luke Diamond was 2-3 with a run batted in, Aaron Stephens 1-3 with an RBI and Derek Battise 1-4 with an RBI for Ironton.

The Fighting Tigers host Portsmouth Tuesday.

Ashland 001 014 2 = 8 5 4

Ironton 000 030 0 = 3 4 5

Evan Cox, Jake Hall (6), Austin Kelley (7) and Cameron Fritz. Steven Easterling, Trevor White (7) and Mo Phillips. W-Cox (K-9, BB-3, HBP-1, H-3, R-3). L-Easterling (K-8, BB-2, HBP-1, H-5). White HPB-1. Hitting-Ashland: Logan Salow 1-4 rbi-1, Aaron Elam 1-4 rbi, Jake Hall 1-4 rbi, Austin Kelley 1-3 rbi, Evan Cox 1-2 rbi; Ironton: Derek Battise 1-4 rbi, Aaron Stephens 1-3 rbi, Luke Diamond 2-3 rbi.