GALLIPOLIS — Ironton was in a must win-must win situation. They only got one of the must wins.

Needing two wins to stay alive in the Southeastern Ohio Athletic League title chase, Ironton won the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader 8-4 but lost 11-1 in five inning in the nightcap to the league-leading Gallipolis Blue Devils.

“We came out the first game and got good pitching and some clutch hitting in a game we had to win, but we just didn’t get the job done in the second game. Give credit to Gallipolis for stepping up when they had to,” said Ironton coach Tobey Schreck.

Ironton needed to win both games to prevent Gallipolis from clinching the South Division title. Ironton is now 9-4 overall and 4-4 in the SEOAL. Gallipolis is 11-2 and 7-1 in the SEAO with one league game remaining.

Josh Pancake got Ironton off to a fast start as he ripped the first pitch of the game off the scoreboard for a home run and a 1-0 lead.

Howie Lucas had a base hit, Chris Warner put down a sacrifice bunt, and Darren Dalton delivered an RBI double as Ironton went up 2-0 in the third inning.

The lead went to 4-0 in the top of the fifth inning.

Lucas, Warner and Pancake all singled and then Dalton and Ethan Preston reached on errors.

Gallipolis tied the game the game with three runs in the fifth aided by an Ironton error and one run in the sixth.

But Ironton scored four times in the seventh inning to produce the win.

Warner and Pancake singled, Dalton reached on a fielder’s choice and Preston had a 2-run single. Jonathan Williams walked and Keith Wetzel had an RBI single.

Steve Easterling got the win as he worked the final two innings in relief of Williams.

Warner was 2-2 as Ironton collected 12 hits. “Tractor” Taylor Barker and Lucas went 2-4.

In the second game, Gallipolis banged out 11 hits and jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning en route to the win.

Ironton scored its only run in the second inning when Wetzel singled, stole second base and came home on a hit by Barker.

Ironton plays at South Point Tuesday.

First Game

Ironton 101 020 4 = 8 12 2

Gallipolis 000 031 0 = 4 9 3

Jonathan Williams, Steve Easterling (6) and Keith Wetzel. Chuck Calvert and Terry Smith. WP-Easterling (1-R, 2-H, 3-K, 0-BB). LP-Calvert. 2B-Ironton: Darren Dalton. HR-Ironton: Josh Pancake. Hitting-Ironton: Josh Pancake 3-4, Darren Dalton 1-4, Ethan Preston 1-4, Keith Wetzel 1-4, “Tractor” Taylor Barker 2-4, Howie Lucas 2-4, Chris Warner 2-2; Gallipolis: Caleb Warnimont 1-4, Tyler Eastman 1-3, Kyle Dingess 1-3, Terry Smith 1-3, John Troester 1-3, Casey Denbow 3-3, Ben Saunders 1-3.

Second Game

Ironton 010 00 = 1 4 2

Gallipolis 600 23 = 11 11 0

Howie Lucas, Ethan Preston (1) and Keith Wetzel. John Troester and Smith. W-Troester (6-K,3-BB). L-Lucas. 2B- Gallipolis: Smith, Saunders. HR-Gallipolis: Warnimont. Hitting-Ironton: Josh Pancake 1-2, Darren Dalton 1-2, Keith Wetzel 1-2, “Tractor” Taylor Barker 1-2; Gallipolis: Caleb Warnimont 3-4, Tyler Eastman 1-2, Kyle Dingess 2-4, Terry Smith 1-4, Chuck Calvert 1-3, John Troester 1-2, Tyler Davis 1-3, Ben Saunders 1-3.