Trojans drop two to co-SEC champ Burlington

FAIRFIELD - The Fairfield baseball team went into Friday night's Southeast Conference doubleheader with a chance to spoil Burlington's run to a share of the conference title. Fairfield needed to take at least one from the Grayhounds to hold them off from splitting the SEC crown with Mt. Pleasant, but the Hounds swept the Trojans 16-5 and 5-0.

Fairfield held a short-lived lead in Game 1 when they went up 2-1 in the bottom of the first on a Nate Smithburg two-RBI double. Burlington scored consistently throughout the game, however, plating double-digit runs in five of their seven offensive innings.

Smithburg had a huge game despite the loss, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs. Elan Ledger took the loss on the mound, giving up six runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks, while striking out one batter over two innings. Brad Woodburn gave up 10 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits and one walk, while striking out three batters over five frames.

Fairfield outhit Burlington 8-6 in Game 2, but they couldn't capitalize when they had runner son. Burlington scored two runs in the first inning and three in the fifth, and Grayhound freshman Alex Fawcett pitched a complete game.

'We had a couple of opportunities. We just didn't come through with the hits that we needed,” said Trojan head coach Josh Allison. 'We can't say that we're inexperienced anymore because we're now at the end of the season, so you've just got to tip your hat to the pitcher.”

Carter Ferrel, Brad Smithburg and Cam Ledger each had two hits in the loss. Max Weaton was 1-for-3 with a double.

B. Smithburg took the loss on the mound, giving up five earned runs on six hits, three walks and a hit batter, while striking out seven over five and two-thirds innings. Ferrel pitched the last four outs without giving up a run.

Fairfield is now 4-14 overall, and will travel to Knoxville tonight (Monday). The Trojans finished fifth out of six in the SEC with a 2-8 record. Mt. Pleasant and Burlington were both 8-2 in conference play to top the league.