Trojans walk off, Panthers bounce back

FAIRFIELD — Much like their July 13 showdowns in Mt. Pleasant, Thursday’s Southeast Conference clashes between the Fairfield and Mt. Pleasant baseball teams ended in a split.

Fairfield walked off 5-4 in Game 1, completing a comeback from down three runs. The Trojans nearly did it again in Game 2, but the Panthers showed out late to win 11-7.

Down three runs in the fifth, Fairfield put together a rally that would tie the game. Dylan Hunter’s two-RBI single put the Trojans within one run, and Tate Allen scored on a double steal to knot things up at 5-5.

Mt. Pleasant couldn’t capitalize on a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh, and that meant the Trojans needed just one run in their half. Nate Smithburg got on with a single to start the inning, and courtesy runner Aidan Krueter came around to score on an error.

Hunter finished 1-for-1 with three RBIs to lead the Trojans in Game 1. Smithburg and Allen each had two hits. Connor Lyons struck out eight batters through a six-inning start, and reliever Nate Woodburn got the win after relieving Lyons in the seventh.

Cooper Keldgord had a big game for Mt. Pleasant, finishing 3-for-3 and scoring two runs. Carter Amos and Zerek Venghaus each had an RBI.

Fairfield had come back once again in Game 2, turning a 4-1 deficit into a 6-4 lead when Tallon Bates plated two with a double in the third.

Things turned disastrous for the Trojans in the top of the sixth. Mt. Pleasant’s patience at the plate, combined with a wild frame from the Fairfield pitching staff allowed the Panthers to bat around and score six runs to take an 11-6 advantage. Fairfield would never recover.

“I thought our guys did a good job in the second game of swinging it,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Brent Broeker. “In Game 1, we jumped out to a 4-1 lead and decided to give it back to them.”

In all, the Panthers had 13 hits. Amos went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Keldgord was 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Ben Newton went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Trevor Wellington had two hits and three RBIs, and Venghaus knocked in two as well.

Newton took the win on the mound for Mt. Pleasant. He struck out four Trojan batters over six innings. Bates took the loss on the mound for the Trojans.

“We've got to learn that we can't take the foot off the gas pedal,” said Fairfield head coach Josh Allison. “We got ahead 6-4 and the energy just completely changed in the dugout, and I don't know why.”

Fairfield is now 16-14 overall and finished fourth in the SEC with an 11-8 record. Mt. Pleasant (9-17, 7-13) finished right behind them in fifth.