The Ironton Fighting Tigers will face off against the South Point Pointers at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Ironton is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.5 runs per game this season.
On Thursday, Ironton got the win against Gallia Academy by a conclusive 12-6. The victory continues a trend for the Fighting Tigers in their matchups with the Blue Devils: they've now won four in a row.
Layla Townsend
| 04/17/25 @ Gallia Academy | 9 |
| 04/11/25 vs Chesapeake | 9 |
| 04/09/25 @ Portsmouth | 9 |
| 03/31/25 @ Huntington | 7 |
| 03/22/25 vs Minford | 5 |
Layla Townsend spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered five earned (and one unearned) runs on nine hits and racked up nine Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in five consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Aubrey Ferguson was incredible, going 2-for-4 with three runs, four RBI, and two doubles. That's the most doubles she has posted since back in May of 2024. Another player making a difference was Miley Bias, who went 3-for-4 with four RBI, one triple, and one run.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Ironton kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. They are a perfect 9-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, South Point waltzed into their match on Thursday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They walked away with a 4-1 win over the Trojans. While the Pointers didn't have the best season last year (they finished 5-19), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
South Point also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Kota Copley gave up a run (which was unearned) on five hits and racked up nine Ks.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Kaylee Stidham, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base.
South Point's victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 9-3. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.3 runs on average over those games. As for Ironton, their victory bumped their record up to 10-3.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Ironton has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like South Point struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Ironton came up short against South Point in their previous matchup on Tuesday, falling 5-2. Will the Fighting Tigers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
