FAIRMONT –Junior Ridge Walters knocked in senior Quentin Hunt with the go-ahead run in the 6th inning to lift Fairmont to a 5-4 victory over West Bladen in the Three Rivers Conference baseball opener for both teams.
Hunt cracked a 1-out single to centerfield, stole 2nd base then raced home when Walters rapped a single to centerfield. Sophomore Nate Jones who came on in relief in the 6th inning, struck out the side in the 7th inning to pick up the pitching win.
The Knights grabbed a 1-0 1st inning lead. Junior Alex Brisson reached base on an error, and sophomore Hunter Smith smacked a single to centerfield. Junior Devon Strange walloped a 2-out double to center that scored Brisson.
Starting pitcher Noah Parker led off the Tornado 1st with a single, and sophomore Malachi Gales slammed a double. Junior Cameron Hodge smacked a single that plated Parker and Gales and vaulted Fairmont in front 2-1.
Sophomore Josiah Williams walked in the 2nd inning, and Gales belted another double. Hodge and Hunt drew walks with Hunt’s walk forcing home Williams for a 3-1 Tornado lead.
Brisson reached base on an error to begin the Knight 3rd inning. Two outs later, Brisson dashed to 3rd base on a wild pitch as Strange walked. Brisson stole home on the back end of a double steal with Strange, and sophomore Michael Young lined a single to right field that scored Strange and tied the game 3-3.
Jones walked, stole 2 bases, and dashed home on an error to edge Fairmont ahead 4-3 in the home 3rd.
Back came the Knights as sophomore Kaden Revels walked and stole 2nd base in the 4th inning. Smith laced a single to right that brought home Revels with the tying run.
Smith batted 2-3 with a run batted in to lead the Knight hitters. Young finished 2-4 at the plate with an RBI. Strange walloped the run-scoring double and also scored a run. Brisson scored 2 runs, and Revels scored a run.
Junior Kaiden Stanley pitched the 1st 4 innings for the Knights and allowed 4 runs – 3 earned – on 5 hits and 6 walks while striking out six. Young worked 2 innings of relief and allowed a run on 2 walks and 4 hits.
Parker pitched the 1st 5.1 innings for the Tornadoes before maxing out his pitch count at 106. He allowed 4 runs – 1 earned – on 5 hits and 6 walks while striking out nine. Jones retired all 5 batters that he faced – striking out four.
Gales smashed 2 doubles and scored a run to lead the Fairmont hitters. Hunt batted 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
West Bladen will host Red Springs Tuesday night.
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