Tigers rally in extra innings to stay in OVC title race

PORTSMOUTH — If pitching is the name of the game, then the Ironton Fighting Tigers’ pitching Friday was named Jacob Hughes and Dawson Philyaw.

Hughes and Philyaw combined on a 5-hitter as Ironton scored three times in the eighth inning to win a key Ohio Valley Conference game over the Portsmouth Trojans.

“Jacob and Dawson’s pitching kept us in the game. Our pitching is our saving grace right now,” said Ironton coach John Hunt.

“Until we can get our bats going like I know they can, it’s up to (the pitchers) to give us a chance to win.”

Hughes went six innings giving up 5 hits, 4 runs of which only 2 were earned, struck out 11 and walked 4. Philyaw did not allow a hit or run in his two innings. He struck out one and walked one.

Ironton is now 8-3 overall and 7-2 in the OVC. Portsmouth slipped to 9-6 on the season and also 7-2 in the league.

The Fighting Tigers began the game with three runs in the first inning.

Bryson Kerns and Braydon Baker walked to start the game and Ethan Sutton reached on an error as Kerns scored.

Tanner Kleinman was hit by a pitch and both Philyaw and Carson Freeman walked to force home a pair of runs.

The lead went to 4-0 in the second inning as Ironton scored without the aid of a hit.

Baker reached on an error, Sutton was hit by a pitch, Hughes walked and Kleinman was hit by a pitch.

The Trojans got a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning to make it 4-2.

With two outs, Landon Malone and Camron Williams walked and both scored on a double by Trevin Brooks.

Portsmouth got an unearned run in the fifth when Caine Boggs singled, moved up on a passed ball and scored when Williams reached on an error.

The Trojans tied the game in the bottom of the seventh to force the extra inning.

Jacob Roth got a one-out single, Malone was hit by a pitch, Williams grounded out as the runners advanced and Eli Roth was safe on a two-out error to score Jacob Roth.

With one out in the top of the eight, Kerns hit a triple and scored when Baker followed with a base hit. Baker stole second, Sutton singled him to third, Hughes grounded out as Baker scored, and Kleinman singled to score Sutton.

“We finally hit the ball and got some runs in that extra frame,” said Hunt.

Kleinman led Ironton at the plate as he went 2-3 with a triple and 2 RBI. Kerns was 1-4 with a triple, Sutton 1-3 with an RBI, Freeman 1-3 with an RBI, and both Philyaw and Hughes had an RBI.

Brooks was 1-3 with a double and 2 RBI for the Trojans, with Williams 1-3, Carr and Boggs 1-4 and Jacob Roth 1-5.

Ironton 310 000 03 = 7 6 3

Portsmouth 002 010 10 = 4 5 2

Jacob Hughes, Dawson Philyaw (7) and Ethan Sutton. Leelind Scurlock, Trevin Brooks (1), Joe Greene (4), Landon Malone (8) and Trevin Brooks. W-Philyaw (IP-2.0, H-0, R-0, K-1, BB-1). Hughes (IP-6.0, H-5, R-4, ER-2, K-11, BB-4). L-Green. Hitting–Ironton: Bryson Kerns 1-4 3B, Braydon Baker 1-4, Ethan Sutton 1-3 RBI, Jacob Hughes RBI, Tanner Kleinman 2-3 3B 2-RBI, Dawson Philyaw RBI, Carson Freeman 1-3 RBI; Portsmouth; Jacob Roth 1-5, Camron Williams 1-3, Trevin Brooks 1-3 2B 2-RBI, Eli Roth RBI, Braxton Carr 1-4, Caine Boggs 1-4.