Mustangs battle for victory over Lions
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
DODSONVILLE — Two strong scoring innings of five runs and three runs were enough for the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs to defend their home field and defeat the visiting Fairfield Lions, 8-6 Wednesday in Southern Hills Athletic Conference action.
LC head coach Garyn Waits spoke about the Mustangs' 2-0 start in the SHAC this season.
"Playing two of the tougher small schools (Division II) in the SHAC and winning this … it is nice to get those out of the way," he said. "We haven't had that success the past couple years, so it is nice to be sitting at 2-0 in the league."
The Lions led early on by a 4-0 score after the top of the second inning was complete with one run in the first and three more in the second.
Fairfield's first run was scored by Joey Wilson, who doubled to reach the bases with two outs.
In the second inning of the Lions, Ryan Bates, Dylan Rohde and Quintin Schaffer all crossed home plate with Schaffer batting in Bates with an RBI double. Rohde scored on a one-out RBI-single by Wyatt Crothers, and Schaffer rounded the bases off a fly ball to centerfield hit by Blake Hildebrant for the RBI.
The visiting Lions didn't keep the lead as LC responded with a five-run second inning where Chaz Lanier, Ryan Inman, Morgan Ryan, Wes Smith and Devin Pierson all rounded the bases for a 5-4 LC advantage after two complete innings.
On the second, Lanier reached on an infield error. Lanier stole second base and was batted in on an RBI single by Ryan. Bricen Hess then sacrificed to right field to plate Inman.
With two outs Smith walked, as did Pierson. Eventually, Ryan, Smith and Pierson all scored runs with Gage Waits batting in two of the runners with a base hit.
Coach Waits talked about how the Mustangs took advantage of opportunities, as FHS committed four errors.
"I thought we both had chances to do that through the course of the game," Waits said. "I told the guys to be patient at the plate and to go up there and help and to make them work. That's what happened.
"We had a week off with the rain. It was a challenge, and mentally, we weren't ready to play."
The Lions tied the score (5-5) in the top of the third with a run scored by Isaiah Liggins, scoring on a wild pitch.
In the top of the fourth, FHS took a 6-5 advantage with a run scored by Wilson, who scored on an outfield error.
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The final three runs of the game came in the bottom of the fourth by the Mustangs (3-0) with Waits, Hess and Kendall Vilvens all scoring runs for the Mustangs, taking the eventual 8-6 winning score.
Hess began the inning with a single, followed by a walk forced by Vilvens. With two outs, Waits singled through the middle.
Cory Snider and Lanier followed with a base hit and a walk to plate Hess and Vilvens. Waits scored on a wild pitch.
The Lions had one last opportunity to tie the score in the seventh inning, reaching base on a two-out error and a walk. With the go-ahead run at the plate, Waits (a relief pitcher) ended the game on a called third strike.
Waits earned the save, going three innings of relief. He faced 12 batters, allowing no hits and walking two. Waits, a senior, struck out two.
Pierson was the winning pitcher for the Mustangs, pitching the first four innings. Against the 23 batters, Pierson allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits and one walk. He hit two batters.
For the Lions, Wilson pitched five innings, allowing eight runs, but just two being earned. Wilson finished with eight strikeouts. Pitching in relief for the Lions was Zach Cox.
"We gave them six unearned runs, so it is really hard to win ball games when you do that," FHS head coach Matt Garman said. "We hit the ball well, but they (LC) did too. Our pitchers went deep into counts and threw a lot of pitches.
"We can't play the way we did on defense and expect to win any ballgames."
LC head coach Garyn Waits spoke about the Mustangs' 2-0 start in the SHAC this season.
"Playing two of the tougher small schools (Division II) in the SHAC and winning this … it is nice to get those out of the way," he said. "We haven't had that success the past couple years, so it is nice to be sitting at 2-0 in the league."
The Lions led early on by a 4-0 score after the top of the second inning was complete with one run in the first and three more in the second.
Fairfield's first run was scored by Joey Wilson, who doubled to reach the bases with two outs.
In the second inning of the Lions, Ryan Bates, Dylan Rohde and Quintin Schaffer all crossed home plate with Schaffer batting in Bates with an RBI double. Rohde scored on a one-out RBI-single by Wyatt Crothers, and Schaffer rounded the bases off a fly ball to centerfield hit by Blake Hildebrant for the RBI.
The visiting Lions didn't keep the lead as LC responded with a five-run second inning where Chaz Lanier, Ryan Inman, Morgan Ryan, Wes Smith and Devin Pierson all rounded the bases for a 5-4 LC advantage after two complete innings.
On the second, Lanier reached on an infield error. Lanier stole second base and was batted in on an RBI single by Ryan. Bricen Hess then sacrificed to right field to plate Inman.
With two outs Smith walked, as did Pierson. Eventually, Ryan, Smith and Pierson all scored runs with Gage Waits batting in two of the runners with a base hit.
Coach Waits talked about how the Mustangs took advantage of opportunities, as FHS committed four errors.
"I thought we both had chances to do that through the course of the game," Waits said. "I told the guys to be patient at the plate and to go up there and help and to make them work. That's what happened.
"We had a week off with the rain. It was a challenge, and mentally, we weren't ready to play."
The Lions tied the score (5-5) in the top of the third with a run scored by Isaiah Liggins, scoring on a wild pitch.
In the top of the fourth, FHS took a 6-5 advantage with a run scored by Wilson, who scored on an outfield error.
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The final three runs of the game came in the bottom of the fourth by the Mustangs (3-0) with Waits, Hess and Kendall Vilvens all scoring runs for the Mustangs, taking the eventual 8-6 winning score.
Hess began the inning with a single, followed by a walk forced by Vilvens. With two outs, Waits singled through the middle.
Cory Snider and Lanier followed with a base hit and a walk to plate Hess and Vilvens. Waits scored on a wild pitch.
The Lions had one last opportunity to tie the score in the seventh inning, reaching base on a two-out error and a walk. With the go-ahead run at the plate, Waits (a relief pitcher) ended the game on a called third strike.
Waits earned the save, going three innings of relief. He faced 12 batters, allowing no hits and walking two. Waits, a senior, struck out two.
Pierson was the winning pitcher for the Mustangs, pitching the first four innings. Against the 23 batters, Pierson allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits and one walk. He hit two batters.
For the Lions, Wilson pitched five innings, allowing eight runs, but just two being earned. Wilson finished with eight strikeouts. Pitching in relief for the Lions was Zach Cox.
"We gave them six unearned runs, so it is really hard to win ball games when you do that," FHS head coach Matt Garman said. "We hit the ball well, but they (LC) did too. Our pitchers went deep into counts and threw a lot of pitches.
"We can't play the way we did on defense and expect to win any ballgames."