By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PROCTORVILLE — It’s not the hits that count, just the runs.

Both teams had just 3 hits, but the Ironton Fighting Tigers parlayed their hits with 9 walks and 4 errors to beat the Fairland Dragons 9-1 on Wednesday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Fairland (10-12, 10-4)got on the scoreboard first with a run in the second inning.

Eli Blankenship walked, Ben Southard beat out an infield hit with Blankenship going to third base on the throw to first and then scoring on a balk.

Ironton (13-8, 10-4) answered with 3 runs in the top of the third.

Tanner Kleinman walked, Dawson Philyaw put down a sacrifice bunt and Braydon Baker had an RBI single.

Ian “Snap” Ginger singled Baker to third. Ginger attempted to steal second and was out but Baker came home to score.  Jon Wylie “Coyote” then doubled down the left field line to score Roach.

The Fighting Tigers got a run in the fifth on walks to Roach, Wylie and Brady Moatz and a squeeze bunt by Chaydan Kerns.

Ironton began to open the game up with 3 runs in the sixth to lead 7-1.

Tanner Kleinman walked, Philyaw put down a sacrifice bunt that was misplayed for an error and Kleinman went to third and Philyaw to second.

A passed ball scored Kleinman with pinch-runner Nate Sloan going to third.

Baker walked, stole second and Ginger grounded out as the run scored. A throwing error allowed Baker to score.

Ironton added 2 runs in the seventh without the aid of a hit.

Connor Kleinman was safe on an error, Tanner Kleinman was hit by a pitch and they pulled off a double steal and Connor Kleinman scored on a passed ball.

Philyaw was safe on an error as Tanner Kleinman scored.

Ginger got the win as he worked the first 3 innings giving up 2 hits, one earned run with a strikeout and 3 walks. Baker got the save as he went 4 innings allowing only one hit and no runs with 5 strikeouts and 3 walks.

Ironton plays at Ashland, Ky., at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Ironton 003 103 2 = 9 3 1

Fairland 010 000 0 = 1 3 4

Ian Ginger, Braydon Baker (4) and Brady Moatz. Ethan Wall, Brycen Hunt (4), Alex Morgan (7) and Brycen Hunt, Blaze Perry (4). W-Ginger (IP-3.0, H-2, R-1, ER-1, K-1, BB-3, HBP-1). Save-Baker (IP-4.0, H-1, R-0, K-5, BB-3). L-Wall (IP-3.0, H-3, R-3, ER-3, K-1, BB-3) ). Hunt (IP-3.0, H-0, R-4, ER-3, K-4, BB-6, WP-1). Morgan (IP-1.0, H-0, R-2, ER-0, K-0, BB-0, WP-1, HBP-1). Hitting-Ironton: Ian Ginger 1-4 RBI, Jon Wylie 1-3 RBI 2B, Chaydan Kerns RBI, Braydon Baker (1-3 RBI; Fairland: Brycen Hunt 1-4, Alex Morgan 1-2, Ben Southard 1-2.