Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

McDERMOTT — The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers understand the value of timely hitting.
The Lady Tigers used nine hits and some other key offensive plays to post an 8-1 win over the Northwest Lady Mohawks on Tuesday.
“We played better defense and we hit the ball better tonight than we have the last couple of games,” said Ironton coach Missy Fields.
“Both Burton and Rowe did a nice job in the circle. Freshmen Holly Dutey and Kianda Martin had nice hits tonight.”
Ironton took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on singles by Mary Beth Burton and Peighton Rowe, Kenzie Cremeens RBI ground out and Demi Sands’ sacrifice fly.
Northwest got a run in the bottom of the inning on a double by Newman and a hit by Rice.
But Ironton answered with two more runs in the second to lead 4-1.
With one out, Haylee Stevens singled and Kiandra Martin had a two-out RBI triple. Burton then doubled home Martin.
The lead went to 5-1 in the fourth when Stevens walked, Rylie Vaughn put down a sacrifice and Martin singled.
The Lady Tigers blew the game open with three runs in the sixth.
Riley Schreck singled, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Holly Dutey.
Burton was safe on an error to score Dutey and Rowe reached on an error as Burton scored.
Martin went 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs batted in, Burton was 2-3 with a double and Dutey 1-1 with a double and RBI.
Burton worked four innings to get the win. Rowe went the final three innings for the save. The duo combined to scatter 10 hits. Burton struck out two and Rowe fanned four. They did not walk a batter.
Ironton hosts Coal Grove on Wednesday and visits Rock Hill on Friday.
Ironton       220    103    0    =    8    9    1
Northwest    100    000    0    =    1    10    8
Mary Beth Burton, Peighton Rowe (5) and Kenzie Cremeens. Laiken Rice and Addisyn Newman. W-Burton (IP-4.0, H-5, R-1, ER-0. K-2, BB-0). Rowe (IP-3.0, H-5, K-4, BB-0). L-Rice (K-3, BB-2, ER-5). Hitting-Ironton: Mary Beth Burton 2-3 2B, Peighton Rowe 1-4, Kenzie Cremeens rbi, Demi Sans rbi, Taiya Hamlet 1-3 2B, Riley Schreck 1-3, Haylee Stevens 1-2, Holly Dutey 1-1 2B rbi, Kiandra Martin 2-3 3B 2-rbi; NW: Lydia Emmons 1-2, Addisyn Newman 1-2 2B, Laiken Rice 2-3 rbi, Jaclyn Burchett 2-3, Sara Smith 2-3, Tayler Butler 2-3.