By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — Now that’s a tag team that the WWE might want to sign.

Ian Ginger and Jacob Hughes combined on a 3-hitter as the Ironton Fighting Tigers stunned the Ohio Valley Conference favorite Portsmouth Trojans 4-3 on Wednesday.

Ginger went 5 innings for the win. He gave up the 3 hits and 3 earned runs, but he struck out 11 and walked 4. Hughes faced just 6 batters in his 2 innings of work and struck out 3 with no walks.

“Ian started off a bit shaky, but fought through it and pitched great. Jacob came in and shut the door,” said Ironton coach John Hunt.

“This group is a mature group that can handle some adversity. I’m very proud of our kids’ performance today.”

Leelind Scurlock was the tough-luck losing pitcher as he went the distance allowing 9 hits, 4 unearned runs with 5 strikeouts and 4 walks.

Ironton (3-0, 1-0) scored 3 runs in the top of the first inning.

With two outs, Braydon Baker walked, Ginger singled him to third and Tanner Kleinman reached on an error as both runners scored.

Dawson Philyaw walked and Carson Freeman singled for the third run.

Portsmouth (3-4, 1-1) came right back to tie the game in the bottom of the inning.

Jacob Roth, Malachi Loper and Trevin Brooks walked to start the inning and Roth scored on a passed ball.

After a pair of strikeouts, Colin Perry singled home the final 2 runs.

Ironton got the winning run in the third inning when Baker reached on an error and scored on a single by Ginger.

Portsmouth threatened in the third when J.T. Williams singled and stole second with one out. But a fly out to shallow centerfield and a called third strike ended the inning.

Neither team threatened the rest of the game.

Ginger went 3-4 and Bryson Kerns 2-4 to pace the Ironton offense.

Ironton  301 000 0 = 4 9 0

Portsmouth 300 000 0 = 3 3 3

Ian Ginger, Jacob Hughes (6) and Ethan Sutton. Leelind Scurlock and Trevin Brooks. W-Ginger (IP-5.0, H-3, R-3, ER-3, K-11, BB-4). Save–Hughes (IP-2.0, H-0, R-0, K-4, BB-0, WP-1). L-Scurlock (IP-7.0, H-9, R-4, ER-0, K-5, BB-4). Hitting-Ironton: Bryson Kerns 2-4, Tyler Roach 1-4, Braydon Baker 1-2, Ian Ginger 3-4 RBI, Carson Freeman 1-3 RBI, Nick Sites 1-3; Portsmouth: J.T. Williams 1-3, Colin Perry 1-3 2-RBI, Preston Krebbs 1-3.