Fairfield baseball edged in eighth inning

Fairfield’s Tate Allen throws a pitch on Friday night in the Trojans’ 4-3 substate quarterfinal loss against Keokuk in 2022. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union) — Fairfield’s Tate Allen (pictured) and the Trojans came up just short to Muscatine on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, 3-2. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield boys baseball nearly had its second victory of the season on Tuesday night against the Muskies of Muscatine.

Despite tying the game late against Muscatine, the Trojans couldn’t find the winning run in the eighth, falling 3-2.

For Fairfield, it was a slow start to the game.

The Trojans did well to limit any damage caused by the Muskies through five innings, as they left six runners on through that span.

At the same time, Fairfield struggled to get anything going itself inside the box.

Through five innings, the Trojans had just one hit off the bat of Caden Allison and a total of four runners left on base.

It wasn’t until the sixth inning that the first run of the game was scored off the bats of Muscatine.

After a walk and a steal to second at the top half of the sixth, the Muskies drilled an RBI double to center which brought the game to 1-0.

That is all the damage the Trojans suffered in the top half and they would answer back a half inning later.

After sitting the Muskies down with three strikeout in the top half of the seventh, the Trojans knotted the game at 1-1.

Tallon Bates scored the tying run after he was walked in the second at-bat of the inning. Tate Allen hit a double to put Bates at third and then a Dain Burkhart RBI single brought Bates across home plate.

Muscatine would strike back once again.

The Muskies rallied of three singles and drew a pair of walks, which turn into two runs in the eighth along with a 3-1 lead.

With a chance to bring it back even in the bottom half of the inning, the Trojans nearly completed the comeback.

After the first out of the inning, Allison once again got the Trojans going with a single followed by a steal to second.

After the second out of the inning, Bates reached first on an error and then an Allen single brought Allison home to make it 3-2 and put Bates on second.

However, with just one out to spare the Trojans were unable to find the game tying run.

Allison and Allen led the Trojans with a pair of hits in the game. Landon Nodurft and Burkhart each had a hit as well.

Allen and Burkhart also had one RBI each.

On the hill, Allen pitched seven innings, allowing five hits, two runs (two earned), two walks and 11 strikeouts.

Burkhart pitched an inning with one strikeout.

With the loss, Fairfield drops to 1-3 on the season and will play Pekin (0-2) on Thursday.