Lions drop first SHAC game of season in loss at West Union
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Fairfield Lions were unable to hold on and and stay undefeated in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference on Tuesday night with the West Union Dragons having a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh to walk-off against the Lions, 9-8.
Fairfield's road loss was described as “tough” by head coach Jeremy McGraw, as the Lions are now 5-1 in the SHAC and 5-3 overall.
“This was a tough loss,” McGraw said. “We led the entire game and did a great job of adding insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Give credit to West Union, they are a solid ball club.
“We had some costly errors, allowing too many free bases. Against a good team like (West Union), they make you pay. It is never easy going on the road, and we are getting everyone’s best. We need to be able to be consistent, and our guys will bounce back.”
Fairfield led the SHAC contest by a 2-1 score at the conclusion of the first inning, and after each team added two runs in the second inning, the Lions led by a 4-3 score.
The Lions scored two more runs in the fourth inning for a 6-3 lead, but that lead was cut down to one run following two runs scored by West Union in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, the Lions added two more runs, but the Dragons had other plans with the aforementioned four-run seventh inning to the 9-8 walk-off victory.
Matthew Spears was charged with the loss as he went 6.2 innings on the mound. He allowed eight runs (five earned) on seven hits and five walks. Spears struck out four batters. Austin Setty pitched in relief, allowing one run (unearned) on no hits and one walk.
At the plate, the Lions totaled nine hits with Sam Buddelmeyer going 3-for-3 with two runs and three walks. Finishing with one hit each were Setty, Cody Gragg, Spears, Wyatt Willey, Layne Morgan and Ethan Grooms.
Spears was 1-for-3 with two RBI, while Grooms was also 1-for-3 with two runs. Andrew Dingey finished with one run and one RBI, while Setty had one run scored.
Gragg totaled one run and one RBI in the loss, and teammate Morgan had one run and one RBI to his overall totals.
Next for the Lions is a home SHAC game on Thursday, April 12 vs. Ripley at 5 p.m.
Fairfield's road loss was described as “tough” by head coach Jeremy McGraw, as the Lions are now 5-1 in the SHAC and 5-3 overall.
“This was a tough loss,” McGraw said. “We led the entire game and did a great job of adding insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Give credit to West Union, they are a solid ball club.
“We had some costly errors, allowing too many free bases. Against a good team like (West Union), they make you pay. It is never easy going on the road, and we are getting everyone’s best. We need to be able to be consistent, and our guys will bounce back.”
Fairfield led the SHAC contest by a 2-1 score at the conclusion of the first inning, and after each team added two runs in the second inning, the Lions led by a 4-3 score.
The Lions scored two more runs in the fourth inning for a 6-3 lead, but that lead was cut down to one run following two runs scored by West Union in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, the Lions added two more runs, but the Dragons had other plans with the aforementioned four-run seventh inning to the 9-8 walk-off victory.
Matthew Spears was charged with the loss as he went 6.2 innings on the mound. He allowed eight runs (five earned) on seven hits and five walks. Spears struck out four batters. Austin Setty pitched in relief, allowing one run (unearned) on no hits and one walk.
At the plate, the Lions totaled nine hits with Sam Buddelmeyer going 3-for-3 with two runs and three walks. Finishing with one hit each were Setty, Cody Gragg, Spears, Wyatt Willey, Layne Morgan and Ethan Grooms.
Spears was 1-for-3 with two RBI, while Grooms was also 1-for-3 with two runs. Andrew Dingey finished with one run and one RBI, while Setty had one run scored.
Gragg totaled one run and one RBI in the loss, and teammate Morgan had one run and one RBI to his overall totals.
Next for the Lions is a home SHAC game on Thursday, April 12 vs. Ripley at 5 p.m.