Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

FLATWOODS, Ky. — This was the definition of a thriller.
A game that needed 11 innings and the international extra innings rule saw the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers escape the Russell Lady Red Devils with a 5-4 win on Saturday in the Tri-State Showcase.
Kylee Richendollar’s two-run homer in the 11th inning lifted Ironton to the win and broke up a classic pitcher’s duel.
Ironton starter Mary Beth Burton pitched the first three innings and allowed three hits, struck out two and did not walk a batter.
Keegan Moore came on to pitch the rest of the way and struck out 12, walked two and yielded two hits.
Jaedon Boggs went the distance for Russell. She struck out eight, walked five and gave up six hits.
Richendollar’s home run overshadowed an impressive game by Peighton Rowe who was 3-5 with a run batted in.
The Lady Fighting Tigers (12-1) began the 10th inning using the international extra inning rule that puts a runner at second base to start the inning.
Rowe was at second and took third when Taiya Hamlet’s sacrifice bunt was misplayed for an error. The two runners pulled off a double steal with Rowe scoring.
Demi Sands put down a sacrifice bunt and Moore’s single drove in Hamlet for a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the 10th, Hailey Thornsbury was placed at second base for Russell since she was the last batter of the previous inning. Megan Bartram then sacrificed Thornsbury to third.
Moore struck out the next batter but Thornsbury scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-2.
Grace Osborn was safe on an infield error, stole second and took third on a wild pitch.
Jaedon Boggs then walked and Makayla Fraley singled in the tying run.
In the 11th inning, Haylee Stevens was placed at second base and promptly stole third.
But it proved to be unnecessary as Richendollar slugged a two-run home run to center field and put Ironton up 5-3.
Russell (12-7) refused to quit. With Haven Layne at second base in the bottom of the 11th, Krissy Hall sacrificed Layne to third where she scored on a wild pitch.
Lilly Holland was safe on an error, but Moore got a line out to Rowe at second base for the second out and struck out the next batter to end the game.
Ironton took a 1-0 lead in the second.
Riley Schreck and Kiandra Martin each reached on errors and Schreck scored after walks to Burton and Rowe.
Russell tied the game in the third on an unearned run.
Osborn singled, stole second, took third on an error and came home when Layne grounded out.
Ironton 010 000 000 22 = 5 6 3
Russell 001 000 000 21 = 4 5 4
Mary Beth Burton, Keegan Moore (4) and Demi Sands. Jaedon Boggs and Lilly Holland. W-Moore (IP-8.0, H-2, R-1, ER-0, K-12, BB-2). Burton (IP-3.0, H-3, R-1, ER-0, K-2, BB-0). L-Boggs (ER-1, K-8, BB-5). Hitting-Ironton: Peighton Rowe 3-5 rbi, Riley Schreck 1-5, Kylee Richendollar 1-5 HR 2-rbi; Russell: Grace Osborn 2-5, Makayla Fraley 2-5 rbi, Haven Layne 1-5 rbi.