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Fairfield baseball walks off Washington
Trojans dominate Game 1, pull out Game 2 in SEC doubleheader
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FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield baseball team has had some close calls in Southeast Conference play, but the Trojans are still unscathed through five games.
After a 9-0 shut out over Washington in Game 1, the Trojans were in trouble all game in the nightcap before walking off the Demons 8-7.
“I think it was that we just had a few more experienced guys who have been in these situations,” said Fairfield head coach Josh Allison. “We didn’t play great defensively, but our pitchers kept battling for us.”
Washington held as much as a 6-2 lead, which the Demons acquired with a four-run second. The score stayed 6-2 until the bottom of the fourth, as Fairfield plated one in the fourth and two in the fifth when starting pitcher Ethan Bisgard sent a two-run blast to left-center field.
“I’d say we weren’t fully locked in on the field early, but after those first two innings, we really settled in,” Bisgard said. “We had good approaches at the plate, and we started making plays. We got into a close ballgame, and that’s where you want to be.”
Washington scored one run on an error in the top of the seventh, which made it 7-5 Demons, but Fairfield loaded the bases in the bottom half, scored twice on bases-loaded hit-by-pitches, and won the game on a walk-off-walk by Dain Burkhart.
Bisgard finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs to lead the way in Game 2. Dayson Workman was 1-for-2 with two RBIs, and Workman picked up the win on the mound, relieving Bisgard in the sixth and pitching two innings, giving up just one unearned run.
In Game 1, Burkhart dominated on the mound, shutting the Demons out in a complete-game seven inning gem. He gave up just five hits all game long.
“Knowing I have that 9-run cushion didn’t change my approach up there,” Burkhart said. “I’ve still got to go up there, throw strikes, pound the zone and let my defense help me.”
Cason Miller led the way offensively, going 1-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs. Bisgard and Aiden Westercamp had three hits each, as well.
Washington had just four hits in Game 1, but the offense opened up in Game 2. Conner Leyden finished 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Nate Edmonds was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and Mitchell Zieglowsky, Boden Brown each knocked in a run.
After a win at Williamsburg one night later, Fairfield is now 9-4 overall and 5-0 in conference play. Washington is 2-7 overall and 0-5 in league play.
