Late run lifts Dragons over Tigers in pitchers' duel

PROCTORVILLE — Hits were scarce. Runs were at a premium. And the result was an outstanding pitcher’s duel.

Nolan Fleming and Tanner Brown combined to edge Braydon Baker and the Ironton Fighting Tigers 2-1 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Wednesday.

Fleming went six innings allowing 6 hits, one unearned run with 6 strikeouts and a walk for the win, Brown got the save as he pitched the seventh giving up one hit.

Baker threw a complete game in taking the loss. He allowed only 4 hits, struck out 10 and walked 4.

“Baker pitched a great game. We just couldn’t muster any runs,” said Ironton coach John Hunt. “We just didn’t take advantage of the opportunities that we had. But give Fairland credit. They played well and their pitchers did a nice job.”

Fairland (6-8, 4-4) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning.

Tanner Brown singled to start the inning, went to second on a sacrifice bunt Chase Lapole, stole third and scored on a throwing error on the steal.

Ironton (7-3, 6-2) tied the game in the bottom of the inning.

Noah Jones reached on a two-base error, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a hit by Jaxson Lavender.

The Dragons got the winning run in the sixth inning.

With one out, Lapole singled and went to second on an error. Josh Gillespie singled to put runners on the corner and then stole second. Nolan Fleming grounded out to first base as Lapole scored.

Gillespie, Lapole and Ayden Napier all went 1-2 and Brown 1-3 for the Fairyland offense.

Ethan Sutton was 2-4, Tanner Kleinman, Carson Freeman and Lavender was all 1-3, Baker 1-4 and Beckett Townsend 1-1.

Fairland 000 101 0 = 2 4 3

Ironton 000 100 0 = 1 7 2

Nolan Fleming, Tanner Brown (7) and Cyrus Cummings. Braydon Baker and Ethan Sutton. W-Fleming (IP-6.0, H-6, R-1, ER-0, K-6, B-1). Save-Brown (IP-1.0, H-1, R-0, K-0, BB-0). L-Baker (IP-7.0, H-4, R-2, ER-2, K-10, BB-4). Hitting–Fairland: Tanner Brown 1-3, Chase Lapole 1-2, Josh Gillespie 1-2, Nolan Gillespie RBI, Ayden Napier 1-2; Ironton: Braydon Baker 1-4, Ethan Sutton 2-4, Tanner Kleinman 1-3, Carson Freeman 1-3, Jaxson Lavender 1-3, Beckett Townsend 1-1.