Greg Kettel has saved his best for last.

Kettle had another strong outing as he pitched the Ironton Fighting Tigers to a 7-3 win over the Minford Falcons Friday.

“Kettel is throwing the ball well right now. He’s had his best outings the last couple of times he’s pitched,” Ironton coach Tobey Schreck said.

Kettel tossed a five-hitter with six strikeouts and one walk as the Fighting Tigers improved to 10-9.

After a scoreless first inning, Ironton got a run in the bottom of the second inning.

Nick Lewis was hit by a pitch and Wes Runyon and Josh Pancake singled.

Minford tied the game in the top of the third inning on hits by Jeremiah Johnson and Keenan Havens and an error.

But Ironton came right back and took the lead in the bottom of the inning on a walk to Tanner Reed and a double by Lewis.

The Falcons evened the score again in the top of the fifth when Robbie Matheny tripled and Ethan Gaines hit a sacrifice fly.

And once again Ironton responded with a run in the bottom of the inning to take the lead at 3-2.

Lewis walked, Jeremy Moore and Runyon singled and David Bridges grounded out as Lewis scored.

Continuing the trend, Minford tied the game in the sixth on a walk to Luke Lester, a ground out and Shaun Cook’s base hit.

However, Ironton answered this time with four runs in the bottom of the inning.

With one out, Chad Miller got a triple and scored on T.J. Keith’s base hit. Reed singled, the runners moved up on a wild pitch and Runyon drilled a two-run single.

Runyon finished 3-3 with two RBI as Ironton banged out 13 hits. Miller and Keith were 2-4 while Reed and Pancake were 2-3.

Ironton visits Russell, Ky., at 5:30 p.m. Monday and hosts Crooksville at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Division III sectional tournament.

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Johnson and Childers. Greg Kettel and Tanner Reed. W-Kettel (6-K, 1-BB, 1-HBP, 2-ER). L-Johnson (6-K, 5-BB, 1-HBP, 7-ER). 2B-Minford: Luke Lester; Ironton: Nick Lewis.3B-Minford: Robbie Matheny; Ironton: Chad Miller. Hitting-Minford: Keenan Havens 1-4, Luke Lester 1-2, Shaun Cook 1-3, Jeremiah Johnson 1-3, Robbie Matheny 1-3; Ironton: Chad Miller 2-4, T.J. Keith 2-4, Tanner Reed 2-3, Nick Lewis 1-1, Jeremy Moore 1-4, Wes Runyon 3-3, Josh Pancake 2-3.