Missed opportunities haunt Trojans

MUSCATINE - The Fairfield baseball team had trouble capitalizing with runners on base Tuesday night in Muscatine, and the Muskies made it hurt, downing the Trojans 12-2(6) in nonconference play.

The Trojans were in business searly after the first three batters of the first inning reachedbase, loading the bases with nobody out. Fairfield squandered the chance, though, when Muscatine starter Zach Eversmeyer forced two-straight fly outs to first base and struck the last batter out.

Despite the disappointing end to their first at-bat, the Trojans did hold a slim lead in the game. After giving up a run in the bottom of the second, Fairfield plated two in the third, scoring on a Brad Smithburg sacrifice fly and a Nate Smithburg RBI single.

Fairfield led 2-1 until the bottom of the sixth inning. Muscatine exploded for six runs in the fourth inning, and then followed that output with four more in the fifth and one in the sixth to end the game an inning early, via the 10-run rule.

N. Smithburg ended the game 1-for-3 with an RBI. B. Smithburg was 0-for-2 with an RBI. Elan Ledger went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Carter Ferrel scored one run, and both Cam Ledger and Josh Brewington had hits.

Nate Woodburn was tagged with the loss, giving up four earned runs on two hits and two walks over one-third of an inning. Brad Woodburn gave up two earned runs on four hits and one hit-batter over three innings. N. Smithburg gave up five earned runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out two batters, and Wyatt Baker gave up one earned run on two hits over one-third of an inning.

Fairfieled fell to 4-11 with the loss. They'll be at Indianola tonight (Thursday) in another nonconference road game.