Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

A lot of little things added up to one bad thing.

Errors, a tough break on the bases and missed opportunities all plagued the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers in a 3-2 loss to the Fairland Lady Dragons on Thursday.

Ironton led 2-0 going into the sixth inning when Fairland scored three unearned runs.

Caitlin Stone singled and Chelsey Stanley blooped an opposite field double. But Ironton third baseman Laken White snared a ground ball down the line and tag out the runner leaving runners at first and second.

Another force at third gave Fairland two outs but Ellen Hinshaw walked to load the bases. A foul ball that appeared to be the final out was dropped for an error giving Fairland new life.

Mackenzie Riley walked to force in a run, Allison Shepherd was hit by a pitch forcing in a run and a wild pitch scored the go-ahead run.

Ironton (1-4) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Saige Fields reached on an error, moved up on a ground out and scored on a hit by Andi Kratzenberg.

Meghan Taylor and Taylor Monk doubled for a run in the fifth inning to put Ironton up 2-0.

Chandler Fulks got the win with a five-hitter. She struck out five and walked two.

Erin Wetzel was the tough-luck loser. She gave up just four hits, walked four and fanned two.

Ironton plays at Rock Hill on Friday at 7 p.m. Fairland plays in the Lady Vikings “Valley of Thunder.”

Fairland 000 003 0 = 3 4 1

Ironton 100 010 0 = 2 5 3

Chandler Fulks and Molly Morris. Erin Wetzel, Kylee Metzger (7) and Saige Fields. W-Fulks (K-5, BB-2). L-Wetzel (K-2, BB-4, HBP-1, ER-0). Metzger K-0, BB-2, H-0. 2B-Fairland: Chelsey Stanley; Ironton: Taylor Monk, Andi Kratzenberg, Meghan Taylor. Hitting-Fairland: Molly Morris 1-4, Caitlin Stone 1-3, Chelsey Stanley 1-2, Haley Woodall 1-3; Ironton: Taylor Monk 1-2, Andi Kratzenberg 2-3, Meghan Taylor 1-3, Taylor Hannan 1-2.