Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — It took a few innings for the Ironton Fighting Tigers to warm up their offense.
But once it was warm, it was red-hot.
Ironton trailed by a run after three innings, then erupted for 15 runs over the next three innings as the Fighting Tigers downed the Coal Gorve Hornets 17-6 in a six-inning Ohio Valley Conference game on Monday.
Ironton (7-11) had 13 hits with Kyle Howell going 2-3 with a double and four runs batted in. Ryan Ashley was 2-3 with three RBI and both Nolan Schreck and Gunnar Crawford were 2-4 with an RBI.
Cory Borders was 2-4 with two RBI and Ben Compliment 2-4 with an RBI for the Hornets.
Ironton took a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Howell and Cameron Deere singled and pulled off a double steal. Brycen Thomas and Ethan Duncan followed with sacrifice flies.
The Hornets came right back to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning.
Compliment singled, Nate Harmon reached on an error and Borders singled in a run. Xander Keaton singled to load the bases and Evan Gannon was safe on an error as two runs scored.
The scored stayed the same until Ironton got five runs in the fourth to lead 7-3.
With two outs, Crawford, Collins Freeman and Ashley all singled for a run. Schreck then singled in a run and Jacob Sloan walked to load the bases and Howell doubled to clear the bases.
Coal Grove answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 7-6.
Christian Workman singled, Tait Matney walked and Compliment singled in a run. An out later, Harmon walked and Borders delivered a two-run single.
But Ironton began to stretch the lead in the fifth with three more runs.
Thomas was hit by a pitch, Duncan doubled and Ashley walked to load the bases. Schreck reached on an error as two runs scored and Sloan singled in the third run.
The Fighting Tigers blew the game open with seven runs in the sixth.
Thomas and Duncan walked and Crawford had an RBI single. Crawford stole second and Ashley had a two-run single. Schreck followed with a single and Sloan reached on an error.
Howell and Deere were both hit by a pitch to force in runs, Thomas capped the rally with a two-run single.
Ironton’s Ashton Duncan turned in the best pitching effort for the game. He threw only one inning but struck out three batters.
Ironton 200 537 = 17 13 4
Coal Grove 300 300 = 6 9 2
Ryan Ashley, Ashton Duncan (6) and Brycen Thomas. Malachi Wheeler and Ben Compliment. W-Ashley (IP-6.0, H-9, R-6, ER-3, K-4, BB-2). A. Duncan (IP-1.0, K-3). L-Wheeler (ER-13, K-3, BB-7). Hitting-Ironton: Kyle Howell 2-3 2B 4-rbi, Cameron Deere 1-3 rbi, Brycen Thomas 1-2 3-rbi, Ethan Duncan 1-2 2B rbi, Gunnar Crawford 2-4 rbi, Collin Freeman 1-4, Ryan Ashley 2-3 3-rbi, Nolan Schreck 2-4 rbi, Jacob Sloan 1-3 rbi; CG: Tait Matney 1-3, Ben Compliment 2-4 rbi, Kyle Sites 1-4, Nate Harmon 1-3, Cory Border 2-4 2-rbi, Xander Keaton 1-3, Christian Workman 1-3.