Luck still not on Fairfield?s side in SEC play

Fort Madison had enough both offensively and defensively in the seventh inning and handed two tough-luck losses to Fairfield Monday night.

The Bloodhounds (12-8, 5-1 SEC) held off a Trojan rally to win game one 4-3 before coming up with their own late scoring spree and shutting the door on Fairfield?s bases-loaded threat in the bottom of the seventh to win the nightcap 4-2.

Joe Hietpas worked six rock-solid innings in game two before Fort Madison chased him in the seventh and things fell apart for Fairfield (6-21, 1-9). Brock Haines had his best outing of the year to open the night, but the Trojan offense came up one run short.

?Both Brock and Joe deserved to win, but we couldn?t put it together offensively,? said Fairfield head coach Josh Allison. ?The number of strikeouts is disappointing, especially after working extensively on two-strike hitting at practice.?

Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh of game two, Brandon Veirs sent a line drive just to the wrong side of the right-field foul line and Fort Madison?s Dillon Herren was able to finish off the complete game victory two pitches later.

Corbin Harwood had come through with a two-out single to score Haines one batter earlier and keep the bases loaded for Veirs.

Fort Madison seized the game in the top half of the seventh with two-straight doubles as part of a three-run inning to break a 1-1 tie.

Hietpas allowed six hits and struck out six, but the lone runner he left on base in the seventh before being relieved by Harwood handed him the loss.

In game one, Fort Madison?s Eric Kent blasted a two-run homer in the top of the first and hit a solo shot for much-needed insurance to lead off the fifth. The Bloodhounds led 4-1 following Kent?s second dinger and held off the Trojans? late rally.

Kooper Dahlstrom finished off a 3-3 night in the nine hole as he drove in Tyler Cooksey with two outs in the seventh to make the score 4-3, but ended up stranded on first to end the game.

Brent Buch had doubled in courtesy runner Darrin Dimmit ? running for Dahlstrom ? in the fifth and finished the game with a pair of two baggers.

Haines was tagged with the loss after giving up five hits and striking out eight in the complete-game effort.

Next up for the Trojans is another home doubleheader today vs. Central Lee before a trip to Keokuk for SEC action Thursday.

Fairfield vs. Fort Madison (1st game)

Ft. Madison ? 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 ? 4 5 0

Fairfield ? 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 ? 3 8 1

FAIRFIELD ? Buch 2-4, 2 2B, RBI; Ellis 0-3; Harwood 2-3, 2B; Haines 0-3; Veirs 0-3; Cooksey 1-3, 2B, R; Davisson 0-3; J. Dimmitt 0-3; Dahlstrom 3-3, RBI, 2R

Pitching ? Haines (L) 7 INN, 5H, 2BB, 8K, 4ER

Fairfield vs. Fort Madison (2nd game)

Ft. Madison ? 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 ? 4 9 0

Fairfield ? 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 ? 2 5 2

FAIRFIELD ? Buch 0-3, BB; Hietpas 1-3, BB, 2B; Harwood 1-4, RBI; Veirs 1-3, BB, 2B; Dahlstrom 0-3; J. Dimmitt 1-3; Ellis 0-2; Haines BB; Cooksey 0-1, 2BB; Fishel 1-2, RBI; Davisson 0-1; Whitney 2R

Pitching ? Hietpas (L) 6 INN, 6H, 6K, 2ER; Harwood 1 INN, 3H, 2ER