Lady Tigers blank Lady Dragons behind Bihl's no-hitter

PROCTORVILLE — Ava Bihl wasn’t perfect. But she came close.

The Ironton junior pitcher fired a five-inning no-hitter with only a pair of walks preventing her from getting a perfect game as the Lady Fighting Tigers blanked the Fairland Lady Dragons 10-0 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Thursday.

Bihl struck out 14 of the 15 outs to get the win. She also went 1-3 at the plate with a run batted in.

Ironton (3-2, 1-0) banged out 10 hits with seven different players connecting safely.

Braegan Thomas was 3-3 with a double and three RBI, Khamil Martin 1-4 with a home run and three RBI, Layla Townsend 2-2 with an RBI, Bihl 1-2 with an RBI, Olivia Wilson 1-2 with an RBI and both Miley Bias and Kenley Neal 1-4.

Ironton took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Jenna Compliment singled, Townsend walked and courtesy runner Kaylee Bridges scored on a two-out single by Thomas.

The Lady Fighting Tigers erupted for eight runs in the fourth.

After loading the bases with one out, Townsend singled home a run, Thomas had a two-run double and Martin hit the first pitch for a home run.

With two outs, Bihl doubled home a run and Wilson singled in a run.

The final run scored in the sixth with two outs when Bihl walked, Wilson was hit by a pitch, courtesy runner Elin Hopper stole third and scored on a throwing error.

Ironton  010 801 = 10 10 0

Fairland 000 000 = 0 0 4

Ava Bihl and Jenna Compliment. Maddie Short, Maddie Cornwell (4) and Maddie Schneider. W-Bihl (IP-6.0, H-0, R-0, K-14, BB-2). L-Short (IP-3.1, H-7, R-7, ER-6, K-3, BB-2). Cornwell (IP-2.2, H-3, R-3, ER-2, K-1, BB-3). Hitting–Ironton: Layla Townsend 2-2 RBI, Braegan Thomas 3-3 2B 3-RBI, Khamil Martin 1-4 HR 3-RBI, Miley Bias 1-4, Kenley Neal 1-4, Ava Bihl 1-3 RBI, Olivia Wilson 1-2 RBI; Fairland: None.