Tigers shutdown Dragons; sets up OVC showdown

IRONTON — Ironton coach John Hunt was just hoping to get some good innings from Braydon Baker.

Not only did Baker give some good innings, he gave seven good innings.

Baker hurled a 4-hitter with six strikeouts and only one walk as the Fighting Tigers beat the Fairland Dragons 5-1 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Wednesday.

“I was glad Baker was able to go the whole game so we didn’t have to dip into our bullpen with a big game (tomorrow),” said Hunt.

“I could have brought in Jacob (Hughes) if I needed to slam the door, but it wasn’t necessary thanks to Braydon.”

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Ironton (13-2, 11-1) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

With one out, Tyler Roach singled, Ian Ginger reached on an error, both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Jacob Hughes drilled a two-run double.

Fairland (5-14, 4-5) got an unearned run in the fifth inning to cut the deficit in half.

Josh Gillespie led off with a single, Chase Lapole walked and Cyrus Cummings hit into a force out at third but a throwing error on the play allowed Lapole to score.

Baker got a fly out to center field to end the inning.

“The kids have just been very mature and pitched with confidence in the defense behind them. If a ball has been misplayed behind them, they have all been able to just go to the next pitch and not live in the past,” said Hunt.

“That has been a key for our pitchers this season. Staying within themselves has had a great impact on our games.”

Ironton padded its lead with a 3-run sixth inning.

Tanner Kleinman and Carson Freeman started the inning with base hits. Carter Bridges followed with an RBI single and Dawson Philyaw walked to load the bases.

Bryson Kerns walked to force in a run and Roach capped the rally with an RBI single.

Ironton collected 10 hits with Roach going 2-4 with a run batted in. Hughes was 1-3 with a double and RBI, Bridges 2-3 with an RBI, Philyaw 1-1, Kleinman and Freeman each 1-3, and Baker and Ginger both 1-4.

Garrett Cornwell was 2-3 and both Gillespie and Thomas were 1-3 for Fairland.

Ethan Wall took the loss as he went 5 innings giving up 9 hits, 4 earned runs with 3 strikeouts and 3 walks. Thomas worked the final inning giving up one hit and a walk.

Fairland 000 010 0 = 1 4 1

Ironton 200 003 x = 5 10 1

Ethan Wall, Wyatt Thomas (6) and Josh Gillespie. Braydon Baker and Jacob Hughes. W-Baker (IP-7.0, H-4, R-1, ER-0, K-6, BB-1). L-Wall (IP-5.0, H-9, R-5, ER-4, K-3, BB-3). Thomas (IP-1.0, H-1, R-0, K-0, BB-1). Hitting-Fairland: Wyatt Thomas 1-3, Garrett Cornwell 2-3, Josh Gillespie 1-3; Ironton: Tyler Roach 2-4 RBI, Ian Ginger 1-4, Jacob Hughes 1-3 RBI 2B, Braydon Baker 1-4, Tanner Kleinman 1-3, Carson Freeman 1-3, Carter Bridges 2-3 RBI, Dawson Philyaw 1-1.