Lions take down Ripley in run-rule victory; fall to Eastern

The past two games for the Fairfield Lions baseball team on Tuesday (April 22) and Thursday (April 24) saw them split their two Southern Hills Athletic Conference games, as they defeated the Ripley Blue Jays 13-3 and they were defeated by the Eastern Warriors 10-8. 

The Tuesday game against the Blue Jays was a big run-rule victory by the Lions, with the home team scoring runs in all four innings they were at the plate, starting with three runs in the bottom of the first inning, followed by a five-run second inning. 

Next came four runs in the bottom of the third, and in the fourth inning the Lions scored one final run to eventually seal the 10-run win by a 13-3 score in five innings. 

Fairfield totaled five hits in the win and committed three errors, but their patience at the plate saw them force six walks. FHS also had 10 stolen bases in the win. 

Corbin Willey led the Lions with two hits by going 2-of-3 as he hit a double to go with two runs and three RBI. 

Zane Matthews finished 1-for-2 with two runs, and a walk. Teammate Anderson Humphreys was 1-for-1 with one RBI. Caleb Rice also had a hit for Fairfield, finishing 1-for-2 with two runs. 

Cameron Miller finished the game with three runs and one RBI. Zane Collins scored one run. Blaine Fauber ended the contest with two walks. Corey Zimmerman collected an RBI and forced a walk. 

The Lions also had Ben Miller scored two runs and walk twice. Otis Cockerill scored one run. Zimmerman and Zach Ahsaruk were hit by a pitch, and teammate Miller was hit by a pitch twice. 

Steals went to Willey, Matthews (two), Cockerill, Miller (two), Rice (two) and Ben Miller (two). 

Ben Miller was the winning pitcher as he pitched five innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks with 13 strikeouts. Miller threw 101 pitches, 62 for strikes. 

BOX SCORE
RHS    000 03x x — 3 2 2 
FHS    354 1xx x — 13 5 3 

Two days later, in SHAC action, the Lions lost to the visiting Eastern Warriors by a 10-8 score. 

Eastern scored two runs in the top of the first inning, then three more runs in the second for a 5-0 lead over the Lions. 

Fairfield responded with two runs in the bottom of the third for a 5-2 score. The fifth inning saw Eastern score one run and the Lions answer with two runs for a 6-4 score. In the seventh inning, each team scored four runs for the final 10-8 score. 

Each team totaled 11 hits, while EHS committed two errors, and the Lions had three errors. 

Zane Matthews led the Lions at the plate with a 3-for-3 game with a double, as he also scored three runs. Corbin Willey finished with a 2-for-3 day with a double and triple, plus he also had one run and two RBI. Both Willey and Matthews were hit by a pitch.  

Having one hit each were Cameron Miller (1-for-4, one run), Blaine Fauber (1-for-2, one hit, one run, one walk), Corey Zimmerman (1-for-3, one walk), Zach Ahsaruk (1-for-4, one run, one RBI), Ben Miller (1-for-4, one RBI) and Otis Cockerill (1-for-4). FHS also had Heath Flint score a run, 

Steals were gained by Fauber, Matthews and Flint. 

Willey was charged with the loss with nine hits allowed, and he struck out six batters in 6.1 innings. Fauber pitched 0.2 innings, with two hits allowed and no walks. 

The Lions now stand at 6-6 overall this season. 

BOX SCORE 
EHS    230 010 4 — 10 11 2
FHS    002 020 4 — 4 8 11