Trojans come through on second chance

Two final-inning chances to win games came up for Fairfield in Monday?s Southeast Conference opening doublheader vs. Fort Madison.

The first, it let slip by.

The second, the Trojans made it look easy. After falling 7-5 in the opener, Cody Moran drew a bases loaded walk-off base on balls for the winning RBI to give Fairfield the 5-4 victory in the nightcap and a doubleheader split.

In game one, a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch by Bloodhound centerfielder Dylan Hoenig halted momentum and Brent Buch grounded out with the tying run in scoring position to end the game. But in game two, Buch stepped up to the plate with Heath Jackson representing the tying run on third base and singled him home.

?In both games one and two, we made some mistakes that hurt us, but the difference was in the second we took advantage of opportunities to drive in runs the whole game,? said Fairfield head coach Josh Allison.

Ghent started the bottom of the seventh for Fairfield with a shot that made it over Hoenig?s head and into the center field fence. Ghent ? the losing pitcher in game one ? galloped into second base to start the Trojan rally. Jackson pinch ran and stole third to set up Buch?s game-tying RBI.

As rain showers steadily moved in, Fairfield took advantage of the effect it had on the Bloodhound pitcher. Josh Dimmitt found his way on base, and Jake Dunbar walked to load the bases before Moran watched four straight balls fly past before taking first base and sending Buch home with the game-winning score. Moran and Brandon Ford each finished 2-3 to lead the 12-hit offense.

Buch?s score chalked up a win for relief pitcher Brock Haines, who, coming off a rough outing against Central Lee Friday, didn?t give up a hit and held Fort Madison to one unearned run in the final three innings of relief work. Starter Darran Ritchie settled for the no decision after allowing just three hits in four innings of work.

?I was pretty impressed with Darran Ritchie and how he threw the baseball for us,? Alllison said. ?He threw strikes and kept the Bloodhounds off balance all night.?

In game one, Willie Ghent was on the mound for all seven innings for Fairfield, but a four-run Fort Madison fifth inning proved to cost Ghent the loss. The senior struck out eight and walked only two, but Fort Madison, facing a 4-2 deficit, took advantage of two Trojan errors in the inning to take a lead they would never surrender.

Ghent also did what he could to help his own cause from the plate going 3-4 with a run scored to lead the offense.

With a conference record that now stands at 1-1, the Trojans are 4-6 heading into Wednesday?s home doubleheader against Centerville.