Tigers use offensive onslaught to take down Panthers

CHESAPEAKE — The Ironton Fighting Tigers took off their cleats and put on the hitting shoes.

In their biggest offensive output of the young season, Ironton had 12 hits en route to a 12-4 win over the Chesapeake Panthers on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Wearing the glass slipper for Ironton was Braydon Baker who went 4-for-5 with an inside-the-park home run and six runs batted in.

“Baker woke up. He had his coffee this morning,” said Ironton coach John Hunt with a laugh.

“He had been in a slump and it clicked today. He’s a good hitter. It was just a matter of time before he started to hit.”

Ironton pitchers Dawson Philyaw and Chase Freeman combined to stop the Panthers on four hits.

Philyaw went five innings as he struck out eight, did not walk a batter and allowed six hits and four earned runs to get the win. Freeman finished and struck out four of the six batters he faced with no hits and no walks.

Ironton (4-1, 3-0) scored three unearned runs in the first inning with two outs.

Tanner Kleinman reached on an error and Jacob Hughes tripled him home. Baker singled in Hughes, Philyaw walked and Carter Bridges had an RBI single.

Ironton got two runs in the fourth when Owen Gallion walked, Kleinman doubled, and Baker had a two-out single to drive them home.

Chesapeake (5-5, 1-2) got a run in the bottom of the inning on doubles by Kaden Perkins and Peyton Muncy.

The Fighting Tigers got two more runs in the fifth to lead 7-1.

Bridges led off with a walk, Freeman doubled, Bryson Kerns grounded out to score a run and Ethan Sutton singled home the second run.

The Panthers answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to trail 7-4.

Jon-Cooper Barker reached on a dropped third strike, Colten Huffman singled and K.J. McClain doubled in a run. Perkins grounded out for a run and Dylan White capped the rally with an RBI single.

But Ironton came right back with two runs of its own in the top of the sixth and it was now 9-4.

Hughes reached on an error, stole second and scored on a hit by Baker. Bridges walked and Freeman had an RBI single.

The Fighting Tigers added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh when Sutton walked, Kleinman singled and Baker hit a three-run homer.

Besides Baker, Kleinen was 2-5 with a double and an RBI, Hughes was 2-4 with a triple and an RBI, Bridges was 2-2 with an RBI, Freeman 2- with a double and RBI, and Sutton 1-4 with an RBI.

Muncy went 2-3 with a double and an RBI for the Panthers while McClain was 1-3 with a double and an RBI, White 1-3 with an RBI, Perkins 1-4 with a double and RBI, and Huffman 1-3.

Ironton 300 222 3 = 12 12 0

Chesapeake 000 130 0 = 4 6 3

Dawson Philyaw, Chase Freeman (6) and Jacob Hughes. Peyton Muncy, Kaden Perkins (4), Aden Parrot (7) and Joe Cremeans. W-Philyaw (IP-5.0, H-6, R-4, ER-4, K-8, BB-0). Freeman (IP-2.0, H-0, R-0, K-4, BB-0). L-Muncy (IP-3.0, H-4, R-3, ER-0, K-2, BB-2). Perkins (IP-2.0, H-4, R-4, ER-4, K-3, BB-2). Parrot (IP-2.0, H-4, R-5, ER-4, K-2, BB-1). Hitting–Ironton: Bryson Kerns RBI, Ethan Sutton 1-4 RBI, Tanner Kleinman 2-5 2B RBI, Jacob Hughes 1-4 3B RBI, Braydon Baker 4-5 HR 6-RBI, Carter Bridges 2-2 RBI, Carson Freeman 2-4 2B RBI; Chesapeake: Kaden Perkins 1-4 2B RBI, Dylan White 1-3 RBI, Peyton Muncy 2-3 2B RBI, K.J. McClain 1-3 2B RBI, Colten Huffman 1-3.