By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

WHEELERSBURG — Steve Easterling gave a winning performance on the mound. Unfortunately, the bats didn’t.

Easterling pitched a six-hitter and allowed just one earned run but the Ironton Fighting Tigers managed only four hits and failed to score in a 2-0 loss to the top-seeded Wheelersburg Pirates 2-0 Friday in the Division III sectional finals.

Easterling struck out six and walked two in going the distance.

“He threw it real well. We had an error that gave them a run,” said Ironton coach Tobey Schreck. “But their pitcher did a nice job. We didn’t do much offensively.”

Ironton (8-9) got only one runner to second base when Jonathan Williams singled and stole second in the fourth.

Tommy Waginger, Jordan McMaster and Sean Lawless had the other Ironton hits.

Wheelersburg (22-2) got a run in the second inning when Austin Hall singled, stole second base, went to third on a throwing error and scored when Derek Moore hit into a fielder’s choice.

After a rain delay, the Pirates added a run in the fourth inning. Moore was safe on an error, moved up on a sacrifice and scored on Braxton Jarvis’ base hit.

Ironton 000 000 0 = 0 4 2

Wheelersburg 010 100 x = 2 6 0

Steve Easterling and Korey Kellogg. Derek Moore and Austin Hall. W-Moore (K-10, BB-1). L-Easterling (K-6, BB-2). Hitting-Ironton: Tommy Waginger 1-3, Jonathan Williams 1-3, Jordan McMaster 1-3, Sean Lawless 1-2; Wheelersburg: Brett Hood 1-4, Dakora Luster 1-3, Drew Parsley 1-3, Austin Hall 1-2, Braxton Jarvis 2-3 rbi.