Lions earn SHAC win at Eastern Brown
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Fairfield Lions needed extra innings on the road, but they got the job done in the top of the eighth inning by defeating the host Eastern Brown Warriors, 9-8 in Southern Hills Athletic Conference play Monday.
The Lions held a 4-0 lead after the top half of the third inning was complete with a one-run second inning and three-run third, but the Warriors answered with a four-run third of their own, tying the score.
FHS scored their first run in the second inning when Jacob Bowman scored in an error by the Warriors. Bowman initially reached the bases with a six-pitch walk.
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In the third, the inning began with Cody Gragg reaching on an error, followed by taking second base on a single from Klay Walker. Sam Buddelmeyer moved the runners over on a sacrifice bunt, and two runs scored on a base hit by Tucker Ayres. Ayres then moved to second on a base hit from Bowman and went to third on an error. He scored on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Austin Setty for the third run of the inning.
The fifth inning saw Ayres score his second of three runs in the game, this time rounding the bases off a base hit from Bowman, scoring from second base. Ayres initially reached first base on a single and then stole second before scoring a run.
As the seventh inning arrived, the Warriors had taken a lead of 8-5 over the Lions with a four-run third and four-run sixth inning.
FHS had to score three runs to tie the score and hopefully force extra innings. They did just that with Gragg leading off the top of the seventh with a walk. Next, Walker took two bags on an error, giving the Lions runners on second and third. Following the first round recorded in the inning, Ayres was the one to push the Lions closer with a double to right field, scoring both Gragg and Walker.
Ayres moved to third base on a balk and scored the game-tying run off a ground out to the shortstop by Bowman, making the score 8-8.
Of the eight hits by the Lions, Ayres led Fairfield at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with three runs and four RBIs. Bowman was 2-for-3 with one run, two RBIs and one walk.
Having one hit each in the game were Gragg (two runs, one RBI, one walk), Walker (two runs) and Setty (one RBI).
The lead went to the Lions in the top of the eighth as Mason Cain walked, followed by stealing second, then third bases. He scored the game-winning run off a one-out base hit by Gragg.
Mathew Spears was the winning pitcher, winning the game with a four-inning relief appearance. Spears pitched four innings, allowing four runs, none earned, on one hit and five walks. He struck out seven batters.
Setty pitched the first four innings for the Lions, and he too only allowed one hit and four unearned runs. Setty walked two and struck out three in the no-decision.
The win moves the Lions to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the SHAC.
Next for the Lions is a home game on Tuesday, April 25 versus the Fayetteville Rockets at 5 p.m. From there, they will host the West Union Dragons on Wednesday, April 26, and on Thursday, April 27, FHS will play their fourth SHAC game of the week at Whiteoak.
The Lions held a 4-0 lead after the top half of the third inning was complete with a one-run second inning and three-run third, but the Warriors answered with a four-run third of their own, tying the score.
FHS scored their first run in the second inning when Jacob Bowman scored in an error by the Warriors. Bowman initially reached the bases with a six-pitch walk.
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In the third, the inning began with Cody Gragg reaching on an error, followed by taking second base on a single from Klay Walker. Sam Buddelmeyer moved the runners over on a sacrifice bunt, and two runs scored on a base hit by Tucker Ayres. Ayres then moved to second on a base hit from Bowman and went to third on an error. He scored on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Austin Setty for the third run of the inning.
The fifth inning saw Ayres score his second of three runs in the game, this time rounding the bases off a base hit from Bowman, scoring from second base. Ayres initially reached first base on a single and then stole second before scoring a run.
As the seventh inning arrived, the Warriors had taken a lead of 8-5 over the Lions with a four-run third and four-run sixth inning.
FHS had to score three runs to tie the score and hopefully force extra innings. They did just that with Gragg leading off the top of the seventh with a walk. Next, Walker took two bags on an error, giving the Lions runners on second and third. Following the first round recorded in the inning, Ayres was the one to push the Lions closer with a double to right field, scoring both Gragg and Walker.
Ayres moved to third base on a balk and scored the game-tying run off a ground out to the shortstop by Bowman, making the score 8-8.
Of the eight hits by the Lions, Ayres led Fairfield at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with three runs and four RBIs. Bowman was 2-for-3 with one run, two RBIs and one walk.
Having one hit each in the game were Gragg (two runs, one RBI, one walk), Walker (two runs) and Setty (one RBI).
The lead went to the Lions in the top of the eighth as Mason Cain walked, followed by stealing second, then third bases. He scored the game-winning run off a one-out base hit by Gragg.
Mathew Spears was the winning pitcher, winning the game with a four-inning relief appearance. Spears pitched four innings, allowing four runs, none earned, on one hit and five walks. He struck out seven batters.
Setty pitched the first four innings for the Lions, and he too only allowed one hit and four unearned runs. Setty walked two and struck out three in the no-decision.
The win moves the Lions to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the SHAC.
Next for the Lions is a home game on Tuesday, April 25 versus the Fayetteville Rockets at 5 p.m. From there, they will host the West Union Dragons on Wednesday, April 26, and on Thursday, April 27, FHS will play their fourth SHAC game of the week at Whiteoak.