Fairfield doubles up on Keokuk baseball

FAIRFIELD — Fairfield baseball had been in a bit of a slump coming into Thursday nights doubleheader with Keokuk, dropping three straight.

In the two games against the Chiefs, the Trojans got back on track picking up a pair of Southeast Conference wins, 11-7 and 11-1.

In each of the two games, the Trojans found themselves down, but show the tenacity to climb their way back.

Fairfield and Keokuk were all locked up after one inning, 2-2, in the opening game.

After a scoreless second, Keokuk took control in the third. The Chiefs scored four runs to take 6-2 lead.

Despite facing a four-run deficit, the Trojans found their stride in the next three innings as they began to chip away at the Chiefs lead.

After three swift outs in the fourth, Fairfield got one back in its half of the fourth.

Chandler Pumphrey found his way home after the ball found the backstop on a wild pitch, cutting the lead to 6-3.

In the fifth, Keokuk added another run to its total, but Fairfield scored two of its own in the bottom half of the inning to draw closer, 7-5.

The one run scored by the Chiefs was the final for the Chiefs. As for the Trojans, they were just getting started.

After making quick work of Keokuk in the top of the sixth, Fairfield brought six total runs home.

Pumphrey got the Trojans started right with a double and a steal to third. Brad Woodburn was then walk and Tate Allen cut it to 7-6 with an RBI single. Evan Hines was walked to load the bases and a sac fly by Dylan Hunter knotted it up at 7-7.

Cason Miller then gave Fairfield the lead with an RBI single, 8-7. Six batters later and two wild pitches later, the Trojans flipped the game on its side and now led 11-7.

The Trojans held the Chiefs scoreless in the seventh to pick up a game one victory.

Pumphrey led the Trojans with three hits and three RBIs in the win. Nate Smithburg and Allen both had two hits. Smithburg had two RBIs and Allen had one. Miller and Connor Lyons each finished with a single hit. Miller had a single RBI. Dylan Hunter also had an RBI.

Allen gave the Trojans four innings on the hill. He gave up four hits, seven runs (four earned), three walks, one hit by pitch and six strikeouts. Nate Woodburn closed with three innings. Woodburn gave up three hits, one run, one walk and two strikeouts.

In the second of the doubleheader, Keokuk once again jumped out to an early lead. The Chiefs took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but then it was all Trojans after that.

Keokuk never scored again.

Fairfield scored six runs in the second inning, and three more in the third to take a commanding 9-1 lead.

The Trojans added two more in the bottom of the fifth to end the game early and sent the Chiefs packing with two losses.

Miller, Pumphrey and Hunter each had two hits in game two. Hunter had a game high five RBIs and Miller had two. Allen also had one hit and one RBI in the victory. Lyons and Woodburn each had one RBI.

Smithburg was a winner on the mound, allowing three hits, one run, two walks and 11 strikeouts.