The Lorain County Ironmen played their best game of the year against the Chillicothe Paints but came up just short on Friday night losing 7-5. The Ironmen had the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning but a double play ended the game.

The Ironmen had to play from behind early when Chillicothe took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Joe Corfman doubled with one out and came into score on Torsten Boss’s triple. Boss then scored on Brandon White’s double.

The Ironmen offense kept the pressure on the Paints all night. After going down 2-0, Stephen Hagen started the inning reaching on an error. He came into score on Billy Urban’s RBI single.

The offense exploded in the seventg to get the Ironmen back into the ballgame after falling behind 6-1. Brandon Cantrill started the inning with a single. JT Feldkamp followed with a single. Justin Mackert then doubled to score Cantrill. Evan Melendez followed with a single to score Feldkamp. Mackert then scored on Nate Antone’s single to make the score 6-4.

The Ironmen entered the top of the ninth down 7-4. Matt McAllester lined the first pitch of the inning into right center for a lead off double. Hagen then singled to put runners at the corners. Antone’s sac fly brought in McAllester to make the score 7-5. A double play then ended the ball game.

The Ironmen would take their last lead of the game in the top of the seventh. Mackert started the inning with a triple off the wall in centerfield. Melendez followed with a single.

McAllester tried to squeeze Mackert home but he was retired at the plate. McAllester then was picked off of first base but was able to get in a rundown to allow Melendez to score the go ahead run. McAllester avoided a tag in the run down and moved to second.

Chris Barnett started for Lorain County. He went four innings allowing five runs, four earned. He walked nobody and struck out three. Danny Kraus relieved and pitched four innings as well. He allowed two runs, both earned. He walked four and struck out three.