Fairfield adds two more losses to end regular season

The Fairfield baseball team?s stumble through the stretch run of the regular season absorbed one final blow as the Trojans limp into district play.

Fairfield fell to Oskaloosa by scores of 6-4 and 10-4 at Tuesday?s doubleheader to wrap up the regular season. The Trojans have now lost 10 straight games to end the year, but get to wipe that slate clean when they hop on the bus for a trip to Centerville and Friday?s Class 3A district opener.

In the first inning of game one Tuesday, Corbin Harwood drove in Jake Dunbar to put the Trojans ahead 1-0 early, but it proved to be the only lead Fairfield would enjoy the entire night. Oskaloosa erased the deficit in the third and took control in the fifth thanks to two-straight Fairfield errors followed by three-straight Indian hits that scored four runs that put them up for good.

The Trojans mustered just four runs from a solid nine-hit game. Starter Brock Haines didn?t allow a hit through 2 1/3 innings, but was relieved by Ghent, who allowed an inherited runner to cross the plate and tie the game, before being charged with the loss. Ghent struck out six in 3 2/3 innings and saw four unearned runs reach home plate.

In game two, Oskaloosa plated three runs in the first inning ? the first two scoring on Erik McGee?s one-out two-bagger ? before running away from the Trojans. The Indians led by as many as seven runs before taking the game 6-4.

Harwood blasted a two-run homer for the Trojans in the fifth inning and Ghent finished the game 2-3 to wrap up a productive night that saw him go 5-7 with two RBI?s overall.

Darran Ritchie was the pitcher of record for Fairfield in the nightcap after throwing the first 2 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and four earned runs. The Fairfield defense committed four errors behind the pitchers that led to three unearned runs in the game.

The Trojans now take their 8-21 record into Friday?s win-or-go-home matchup at Centerville. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.