Washington Evening Journal
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Fairfield baseball offense too much for Mt. Pleasant
Trojans score 30 runs over two games at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex
Andy Krutsinger
Jun. 8, 2021 5:21 pm
MT. PLEASANT — Going into Monday’s doubleheader at Mt. Pleasant, the Fairfield baseball team had scored just 17 runs in its first seven games in the season. In two games at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex on Monday, the Trojans nearly doubled that total.
Fairfield was hot at the plate all night, beating Mt. Pleasant 14-7 in Game 1 and 16-0(6) in Game 2 to sweep the Panthers in a Southeast Conference double dip.
Game 1 was a wild one over the first four innings. Fairfield scored seven runs in the second inning to take what looked to be a commanding lead, but Mt. Pleasant cut it to 9-7 after four as teams traded blows half-inning by half-inning.
While the Trojan runs kept flowing, the Panthers slowed down as Fairfield’s Isaac Harris came in and shut the Panthers out from the middle of the fourth inning on.
Harris threw 3⅔ shut out innings to close out the game, striking four Mt. Pleasant batters out in the process.
“That was really important for us to start to throw strikes,” said Trojan head coach Josh Allison. “I really appreciate the fact that he came in there and pounded it.”
After adding one run each in the third, fourth and fifth innings, the Trojans broke the game open with four runs in the sixth.
“They had 14 runs and 11 of those came in two different innings,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Brent Broeker. “If we could have limited that damage early on, we were right there.”
Evan Haines led the team in Game 1, going 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. Nate Woodburn was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Tallon Bates finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Mt. Pleasant’s Trevor Wellington went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the loss. Chase Williamson was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Will Edeker started the game for Mt. Pleasant and gave up 13 runs (three earned) on 10 hits and three walks while striking out five. Zerek Venghaus came in to relieve Edeker in the sixth inning and gave up just one unearned run.
Game 2 saw a dominant outing on the mound for Brad Smithburg, who held the Panthers to just two runs in a six-inning complete game. Smithburg gave up just two hits and four walks, while striking out 11 batters.
“I really wanted to work on just staying a groove and not over-exhilarating myself early on,” Smithburg said. “I felt like I had just as much in the tank at the end as I did in the beginning.”
Smithburg also had a big game at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a triple and four RBIs. Harris was 1-for-2 with three RBIs. Nate Smithburg and Tate Allen each knocked in two runs, and both Brody Angstead and Dylan Hunter went a perfect 2-for-2.
Mt. Pleasant had three players see time on the mound in Game 2; Trevor Wellington, Lincoln Henriksen and Tim Wilits.
Fairfield is now 4-5 overall this season and 2-2 in the Southeast Conference. Mt. Pleasant is 1-6 overall and 1-3 in league play.
Fairfield’s Evan Haines makes a running catch in the outfield during the Trojans’ two-game sweep of Mt. Pleasant on Monday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant’s Will Edeker throws a pitch during Game 1 of the Panthers’ loss to Fairfield on Monday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Fairfield’s Dylan Hunter (left) dives into second base while Mt. Pleasant’s Colton Hutson (right) fields a throw from the catcher on Monday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)