By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — It was a game of first for Dawson Philyaw.

The Ironton sophomore started the game at first base, got his first game-winning hit, and pitched the final 2 innings to get his first varsity win as the Fighting Tigers edged the Rock Hill Redmen 4-3 Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Philyaw pitched 2 scoreless innings, did not give up a hit and struck out a batter. Braydon Baker went the first 5 innings and allowed just 2 hits with 3 strikeouts and all 3 runs were unearned.

Rock Hill’s Dawson Lewis pitched well in defeat. He went 6 innings allowing 7 hits, 4 earned runs with 2 strikeouts and 2 walks.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when Ironton (9-5, 6-3) took a 2-0 lead.

Ian Ginger singled with one out and Connor Kleinman followed with a hit. Jon Wylie singled home Ginger and Brady Moatz then singled in Kleinman

Rock Hill (7-6, 5-4) got an unearned run in the top of the fourth.

Lewis reached on an error, went to third on a ground out and scored on an error,

The Fighting Tigers came right back in the bottom of the inning and got the run back to lead 3-1.

Tanner Kleinman led off with a triple and scored on Philyaw’s ground out to shortstop.

Rock Hill tied the game in the fifth with 2 additional unearned runs,

Braxton Harper reached on an error to start the inning and stole second base, After a pair of strikeouts, Dylan Griffith singled for Rock Hill’s first hit and Harper went to third.

An error on the play scored Harper and Griffith went to third. Lewis then singled to score Griffith and tie the game.

But Ironton pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the sixth.

With one out, Tanner Kleinman singled, and stole second. Philyaw then lined a 1-0 pitch centerfield scoring Kleinman to make it 4-3.

Philyaw then came on in relief in the top of the seventh and retired the side in order to earn his first varsity win.

Tanner Kleinman was 2-3 with a triple to pace Ironton at the plate. Ginger was 1-2, Wylie and Moatz each 1-3 with an RBI, Connor Kleinman 1-3 and Philyaw 1-3 with 2 RBI,

Lewis was 1-3 with an RBI and Griffith 1-3 to account for the Rock Hill hitting.

On Monday, Ironton plays at Fairland and Rock Hill visits Chesapeake.

Rock Hill 000 120 0 = 3 2 2

Ironton     002 101 x = 4 7 5

Dawson Lewis and Drew Schug. Braydon Baker, Dawson Philyaw (6) and Brady Moatz. W-Philyaw (IP-2.0, H-0, R-0, K-1, BB-0). Baker (IP-5.0, H-2, R-3 ER-0, K-3, BB-0, HBP-1). L-Lewis (IP-60, H-7, R-4, ER-4, K-2, BB-2, HBP-1, WP-1). Hitting-Rock Hill: Dylan Griffith 1-3, Dawson Lewis 1-3 RBI; Ironton: Ian Ginger 1-2, Connor Kleinman 1-3, Jon Wylie 1-3 RBI, Brady Moatz 1-3 RBI, Tanner Kleinman 2-3 3B, Dawson Philyaw 1-3 2-RBI.