It only takes one.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers have been using one big inning to make the difference in their games this season.

Friday it was a 7-run fifth inning that proved to be the difference as Ironton beat the Jackson Ironmen 12-5 in a Southeastern Ohio Athletic League game.

“That seems to be our M.O. We seem to have one inning where we score a lot of runs or we fall apart and give up a bunch of runs,” Ironton coach Tobey Schreck said.

“We hit the ball again, but the difference was our defense. We didn’t have any errors.”

Chad Miller led the 13-hit attack by going 2-3 with a double and four runs batted in.

David Bridges also went 2-3 while Tanner Reed and Wes Runyon each went 2-4.

Every batter for Ironton had at least one hit.

Ironton took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Miller singled, stole second and scored on a hit by Reed.

Dillon Cryder slammed a two-run homer in the second inning after a walk to Nathaniel Haller.

But Ironton came right back with three runs in the bottom of the inning.

Bridges walked, Josh Pancake was hit by a pitch, and Byron Brammer laid down a sacrifice bunt. Miller followed with a two-run double and then scored on a hit by T.J. Keith.

Jackson got two runs in the fourth inning to tie the game but Ironton came back with its big fifth inning rally.

With one out, Reed, Nick Lewis, Jeremy Moore, Runyon and Bridges all hit consecutive singles. Bridges hit drove in two runs and then Pancake smacked a double for an RBI.

Brammer walked and Miller had a two-run single. Keith grounded out as the final run scored.

The Fighting Tigers added a run in the six when Runyon singled and continued to second base on an outfield error and then scored on a double by Bridges.

Ironton is now 9-9 overall and finishes 7-5 in the SEOAL South, tied with Gallipolis for second place. However, Ironton won two of the three meetings with Gallipolis and will be the No. 2 seed and host Warren Tuesday in the Day of Champions.

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Bruce Smith and Nathaniel Haller. Howie Lucas and Tanner Reed. W-Lucas (7-K,7-BB). L-Smith (3-K, 3-BB, 1-HBP). 2B-Jackson: Seth Osborne, Nathaniel Haller, Dillon Cryder; Ironton: Chad Miller, David Bridges, Josh Pancake. HR-Jackson: Dillon Cryder. Hitting-Jackson: Seth Osborne 1-5, Kyle Newsome 2-2, Tyrus Coyan 1-4, Nathaniel Haller 1-2, Dillon Cryder 2-4, Evan Osborne 1-3, Jack Ferris 1-4; Ironton: Chad Miller 2-3 (4 RBI), T.J. Keith 1-4, Tanner Reed 2-4, Nick Lewis 1-3, Jeremy Moore 1-4, Wes Runyon 2-4, David Bridges 2-3, Josh Pancake 1-3, Byron Brammer 1-1.