By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — Instead of playing keep away, the Ironton Fighting Tigers played give away.

Ironton was guilty of 4 errors that led to 5 unearned runs in a 6-4 Ohio Valley Conference loss to the Rock Hill Redmen on Wednesday.

“In the sixth inning we just fell apart. Errors never help the cause,” said Ironton coach Travis Wylie

“We have some guys playing some new positions and we’ll get better.”

Ironton took a 1-0 lead in the second inning.

Chaydan Kerns singled, stole second, Braydon Baker single, Tanner Kleinman was hit by a pitch and Tyler Roach walked to force home Kerns.

The lead went to 2-0 in the third on doubles by Connor Kleinman and Ian Ginger to start the inning.

Rock Hill got the run back in the bottom of the inning.

Connor Blagg led off with a hit, moved up on a ground out, Dawson Lewis was hit by a pitch and Jayson McFann singled to load the bases.

Brady Cremeans reached on an error as Blagg scored.

The Fighting Tigers (3-3, 0-2) made it 3-1 in the top of the fifth when Ginger singled, stole second, went to third on a fly ball by Brady Moatz and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kerns.

But then the dam broke in the bottom of the sixth as 3 Ironton errors allowed the Redmen to flood home plate with 5 unearned runs.

Jake Fox reached on an error, moved up on a ground out, took third on an infield hit by Ethan Blagg, Connor Blagg then walked and Dylan Griffith reached on an error as 2 runs scored.

Lewis and McFann walked and the final run scored when Cremeans was safe on an error.

Ironton tried to rally in the seventh only to fall short.

Jon Wylie led off with a hit, stole second, took third on a ground out and scored on a hit by Ginger.

Moatz walked but a fly out and strikeout ended the game.

Ironton pitchers Tommy Sheridan and Baker combined to allow just 4 hits. Sheridan worked the first 3 innings and gave up 2 hits, one earned run, with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks. Baker worked 3 innings giving up 2 hits, 5 unearned runs with 4 strikeouts and 3 walks.

“I thought Sheridan threw well in his first varsity start,” said Wylie.

Ironton had 8 hits with Ginger going 3-4 with a double.

Ironton     011 010 1 = 4 8 4

Rock Hill 001 005 x = 6 4 0

Tommy Sheridan, Braydon Baker (4) and Brady Moatz. Dawson Lewis and Drew Schug. W-Lewis (IP-7.0, H-8, R-4, ER-4, K-1, BB-3, HBP-1). L-Baker (IP-3.0, H-2, R-5, ER-0, K-4, BB-3). Sheridan (IP-3.0, H-2, R-1, ER-1, K-4, BB-2, HBP-1, WP-1). Hitting-Ironton: Jon Wylie 1-4, Connor Kleinman 1-4 2B, Ian Ginger 3-4 2B, Chaydan Kerns 1-4 RBI, Braydon Baker 1-4, Tanner Kleinman 1-2; Rock Hill: Jayson McFann 2-3 RBI, Ethan Blagg 1-3, Connor Blagg 1-2.