Tigers win battle of Highland County rivals; defeat Fairfield 6-5
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD - The McClain Tigers have hit their stride as of late. Not only have they won nine of their last 10 games, but they have won most of those games with late inning runs to seal the victory.
Monday's game against the Fairfield Lions was no different.
With the game tied at five headed into the bottom of the sixth, the Tigers gained one run to break the tie and used pitching to close out the seventh for a 6-5 non-league win against Highland County rival Fairfield.
This time, to gain the win, McClain didn't look for the home run ball like in past games, but instead used smart baseball to break the tied score in the late innings.
To start the bottom half of the sixth Logan Wise forced a walk, followed with Zack Mullikin reaching first on a fielder's choice. Neither Wise or Mullikin would round the bases to home, but Jon Johnson singled to give the Tigers a base runner with two outs. Johnson got into scoring position by stealing second base.
Zach Uhl took his time at the plate and proceeded to hit a double to bring Johnson around the bases to put the Tigers up 6-2.
The winning pitcher for the Tigers was Tyler Neville. Neville relieved starter Ryan Case in the sixth inning.
Case worked five innings, striking out five, while walking none. He allowed seven hits and four runs (three earned).
Austin Wilson relieved Neville with two outs in the top of the seventh, as the Lions were threatening. Wilson gained his first save of the season.
"(Ryan) Case did a great job of throwing strikes. Give Fairfield credit, their kids can hit the ball," MHS head coach Brandon Streitenberger said. "(Tyler) Neville did a great job in relief, and Austin did his job at the end."
As for the Lions, they improved with not only their hitting, but committed just one error, as they had problems in the previous week with fielding the ball.
With each team gaining 12 hits, it was the Lions who started off the scoring as they put up one run in the top of the first inning, with two outs.
Ian Adams started the two-out hitting with a single and scored on a base hit by teammate Nathaniel Miller.
The Tigers responded with two runs in their half of the first, also with two outs.
Johnson reached first with a double. followed with a walk by Uhl. On a 3-2 count Dustin Taylor doubled in Johnson and Uhl for the two-out runs as the Tigers were down to their final strike of the inning.
MHS gained a three-run lead in the bottom of the third, adding two more runs to their advantage.
Johnson singled to take first with one out. Uhl followed with a double to score Johnson. Taylor followed by singling in Uhl for the 4-1 Tiger advantage.
Fairfield continued to battle as they scored on run in the fourth and fifth innings, cutting the McClain lead to one run.
In the fourth inning, the Lions roared with two outs.
Cody Tolle gained a base hit as the Lions were down to their final out. Kyle Carson stepped up to the plate and doubled in Tolle for the run.
The top half of the fifth saw Jordan Boles single to lead off the inning. With one out, Bobby Wilson doubled home Boles to chop the Tigers' advantage to one run at 4-3.
McClain didn't back down, but added to their lead with a one-run bottom of the fifth inning.
Caleb Gregory singled to give the Tigers base runners, and with one out, Caleb Cooper belted a double to score Gregory to put the Tigers up two runs.
The Lions tied the game in the sixth inning with Adams starting off the inning with a single. Miller followed with a base hit and Dakota Hargrave loaded the bases on a fielder's choice.
Tolle followed by reaching on a fielder's choice, allowing Adams to score. Hargrave took home plate on a McClain error, tying the game at five.
For the Lions Adams finished 4-for-4 with two runs. Miller went 2-for-4 with one RBI. Boles followed at 2-for-3 with one run.
The Tigers were led by Taylor and Johnson who each went 3-for-4. Johnson scored three runs and Taylor had three RBIs. Uhl finished 2-for-2 with two doubles, two walks, two runs and two RBIs.
BOX SCORE
FHS 100 112 0 - 5 12 1
MHS 202 011 x - 6 12 1
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