Lions score 9 runs en route to SHAC victory over Eastern
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG — A double play made by the Fairfield Lions defense with the bases loaded to end the top of the sixth inning — while holding a three-run lead — ended up being a timely difference maker with the Lions propelling to a strong bottom of the sixth, and eventually a 9-2 conference victory, over the visiting Eastern Brown Warriors.
The Thursday Southern Hills Athletic Conference win by the Lions was their third victory of the season, and not only was it their strong 6-4-3 double play in the sixth, but the pitching of junior Sam Buddelmeyer and the bats of the Lions helped Fairfield defend their home field.
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“Sam did a good job on the mound for us, but what was critical for us was the sixth-inning, bases-loaded and one-out double play,” FHS head coach Jeremy McGraw said. “Our defense is always solid, but that got the momentum going our way, and in the next inning the guys really played with confidence.
“We had some big hits, moved some runners and had timely hitting. Tonight we were more patient at the plate and had better pitch selection and made contact.”
Fairfield didn’t score their first runs of the game until the bottom of the third as they already trailed by a 1-0 score following a run scored by Mike Schmid. In the bottom of the third, junior Lane Morgan led off the inning with a single (on an 0-2 count) and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Tanner Collins in the first pitch of the at-bat.
From there, junior Austin Setty drew a walk on five pitches, Morgan scored off a double by senior Cody Gragg and Setty rounded the bases with a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Buddelmeyer for a 2-1 lead.
Eastern Brown tied the SHAC contest with a run in the top of the fifth with Nathan Bellamy scoring the run, making it a 2-2 score.
Though that was all the scoring for the Warriors, the Lions were far from done in the scoring column with a fifth inning which saw Setty, Buddelmeyer and junior Andrew Dingey score runs. In the inning, Setty had a single, Buddelmeyer singled, Dingey singled and junior Matthew Spears hit a double.
“Setty got things going with two singles in the fifth and sixth innings,” McGraw said. “Early on, Lane Morgan had a big hit to get us going, and there were others. Honestly, there were a quite a few who did well, and it is hard to just pinpoint one. As a team, that is what we are looking for. We have some talented guys, and we’ve been struggling, so hopefully this offense will move us forward.”
The sixth inning for Fairfield included four more runs as sophomore Wyatt Willey, Morgan, Setty and Buddelmeyer all rounded the bases with Gragg credited with an RBI on a sacrifice fly to left field.
Buddelmeyer was the winning pitcher as he pitched five complete innings and into the sixth. He allowed two runs on five hits and three walks. Buddelmeyer struck out 10 batters.
Fairfield’s relief pitching went the sixth and seventh inning on the mound. In that span, the relief pitching faced seven batters, allowing no hits, two walks and striking out two.
At the plate, the Lions totaled 11 hits, with Setty going 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs. Buddelmeyer was 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly, RBI and two runs. Dingey was 2-for-4 with a double and one run. Also with two hits was Morgan at 2-for-3 with two runs.
Having one hit each were Gragg (a double), Spears (a double) and junior Griffin Irvin. Collins had a sacrifice bunt, and Willey had a walk and one run.
Next for the Lions is another SHAC game on Friday, April 5 when they take on the Peebles Indians at 5 p.m.
The Thursday Southern Hills Athletic Conference win by the Lions was their third victory of the season, and not only was it their strong 6-4-3 double play in the sixth, but the pitching of junior Sam Buddelmeyer and the bats of the Lions helped Fairfield defend their home field.
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“Sam did a good job on the mound for us, but what was critical for us was the sixth-inning, bases-loaded and one-out double play,” FHS head coach Jeremy McGraw said. “Our defense is always solid, but that got the momentum going our way, and in the next inning the guys really played with confidence.
“We had some big hits, moved some runners and had timely hitting. Tonight we were more patient at the plate and had better pitch selection and made contact.”
Fairfield didn’t score their first runs of the game until the bottom of the third as they already trailed by a 1-0 score following a run scored by Mike Schmid. In the bottom of the third, junior Lane Morgan led off the inning with a single (on an 0-2 count) and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Tanner Collins in the first pitch of the at-bat.
From there, junior Austin Setty drew a walk on five pitches, Morgan scored off a double by senior Cody Gragg and Setty rounded the bases with a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Buddelmeyer for a 2-1 lead.
Eastern Brown tied the SHAC contest with a run in the top of the fifth with Nathan Bellamy scoring the run, making it a 2-2 score.
Though that was all the scoring for the Warriors, the Lions were far from done in the scoring column with a fifth inning which saw Setty, Buddelmeyer and junior Andrew Dingey score runs. In the inning, Setty had a single, Buddelmeyer singled, Dingey singled and junior Matthew Spears hit a double.
“Setty got things going with two singles in the fifth and sixth innings,” McGraw said. “Early on, Lane Morgan had a big hit to get us going, and there were others. Honestly, there were a quite a few who did well, and it is hard to just pinpoint one. As a team, that is what we are looking for. We have some talented guys, and we’ve been struggling, so hopefully this offense will move us forward.”
The sixth inning for Fairfield included four more runs as sophomore Wyatt Willey, Morgan, Setty and Buddelmeyer all rounded the bases with Gragg credited with an RBI on a sacrifice fly to left field.
Buddelmeyer was the winning pitcher as he pitched five complete innings and into the sixth. He allowed two runs on five hits and three walks. Buddelmeyer struck out 10 batters.
Fairfield’s relief pitching went the sixth and seventh inning on the mound. In that span, the relief pitching faced seven batters, allowing no hits, two walks and striking out two.
At the plate, the Lions totaled 11 hits, with Setty going 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs. Buddelmeyer was 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly, RBI and two runs. Dingey was 2-for-4 with a double and one run. Also with two hits was Morgan at 2-for-3 with two runs.
Having one hit each were Gragg (a double), Spears (a double) and junior Griffin Irvin. Collins had a sacrifice bunt, and Willey had a walk and one run.
Next for the Lions is another SHAC game on Friday, April 5 when they take on the Peebles Indians at 5 p.m.