Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — One of the great all-time clutch hitters was Tony Perez. Despite the rumors, he was not the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers’ hitting coach on Thursday.
The Lady Tigers used three clutch hits to rally them past the Rock Hill Redwomen 5-3 in an eight-inning Ohio Valley Conference game.
Kenzie Cremeens, Demi Sands and Riley Schreck all had key hits to drive in runs as Ironton came from behind twice in the game to win.
“We started the game pretty flat tonight,” said Ironton coach Missy Fields. “Our pitchers pitched well and the defense played well, but our bats didn’t come alive until the fifth inning.
“I love that the girls listened to us and became more patient at the plate and made things happen.”
Rock Hill (6-6, 2-3) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a triple by Rileigh Morris and a single by Grace Stevens.
Ironton (5-5, 2-3) took a 2-1 lead with two outs in the top of the fifth inning.
Mary Beth Burton singled, Peighton Rowe double and Cremeens lined a two-run single.
The Redwomen regained the lead in the bottom of the inning when Makenzie Hanshaw slammed a two-run homer after Kylee Howard singled leading off the inning.
Ironton tied the game with a run in the top of the seventh.
With one out, Burton and Rowe singled. An out later, Sands came through with a clutch RBI single.
Taiya Hamlet singled to start the winning rally in the eighth.
After Haylee Stevens hit into a force play, Schreck had the third clutch hit as she doubled to score what proved to be the winning run.
Kiandra Martin followed with an RBI double to give Ironton an insurance run.
Rock Hill got a one-out single by Keilie Adams in the bottom of the inning but Burton got a foul pop up to the catcher and a strikeout to end the game.
Rowe started and went five innings. She gave up six hits, struck out two, walked one and three earned runs.
Burton went the final three innings for the win. She allowed three hits and walked one.
Howard went the distance for Rock Hill in taking the loss. She struck out four and walked only one. The five runs were earned.
Ironton banged out 14 hits with Schreck and Burton both going 3-for-4. Rowe, Sands and Martin were all 2-4.
Rock Hill had nine hits with Stevens 2-3, Morris and Sam Stamper 2-4 and Hanshaw 1-4 with the home run and two RBI.
Rock Hill visits Chesapeake on Friday while Ironton plays in the Russell Tournament.
Ironton       000    020    12    =    5    14    1
Rock Hill    100    020    00    =    3    9    1
Peighton Rowe, Mary Beth Burton (6) and Kenzie Cremeens. Kylee Howard and Makenzie Hanshaw. W-Burton (IP-3.0, H-3, BB-1). Rowe (IP-5.0, H-6, ER-3, K-2, BB-1). L-Howard (K-4, BB-1, ER-5). Hitting-Ironton: Mary Beth Burton 3-4, Peighton Rowe 2-4 2B, Kenzie Cremeens 1-4 2-rbi, Demi Sands 2-4 rbi, Taiya Hamlet 1-4, Riley Schreck 3-4 2B, Kiandra Martin 2-4 2B 2-rbi; RH: Rileigh Morris 2-4 3B, Grace Stevens 2-3 rbi, Kylee Howard 1-4, Makenzie Hanshaw 1-4 HR 2-rbi, Keilie Adams 1-4, Sam Stamper 2-4.