A solid defensive effort by the Fayette Falcons on senior night Monday led to a 7-0 shutout over Calvary Lutheran on Estes Field in Fayette.

The win was a much-needed lift for the Falcons, who had dropped the previous two games by wide margins. Fayette fell to CS8 opponent and eighth-ranked Tipton 10-0 on Friday. A string of early-inning errors cost the Falcons in a 14-2 non-conference game at Jamestown Saturday morning.

“Saturday was such a tough game. It was one of those games we felt like we couldn’t do anything right. They could’ve packed it in for the season. They came in tonight, and our younger guys really wanted a big win for our seniors,” said Fayette coach Andy Oeth.

Errors have plagued the Falcon defense all season, emerging as the difference in tight losses. But it was Monday’s lack of errors that eased the pressure on the offense and let the bats go to work. Calvary Lutheran had its share of baserunners, but the Falcons always found an answer on defense, stranding the bases loaded in the top of the first with a groundout to senior Thomas Elliott with a sliding catch and throwout at first. The senior flashed the leather all night, contributing an inning-ending double play in the bottom of the second.

Normally Fayette’s starting first baseman, Elliott started Monday’s game at second, which allowed fellow senior Jacob Wood the start at first. The pair made for a stingy right side of a tight infield.

“Tommy is a guy who can play a lot of places. He’s just so much a rock at first base. I could put him at second base. I could put him at third base. I could even put him in right field. He’s just a guy we can count on to do those things,” Coach Oeth said. “Being able to have Jacob play at first base, and at a high level, was great.”

After two and a half scoreless innings, Fayette hit its way onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the third, when sophomore Thad Quint drove in junior Ethan Bean on a fly ball to right center. A pair of errors by the Lions allowed two more runs to score on ground balls by sophomore Parker LaValley and junior Caleb Craig.

The Lions were poised to answer in the top of the fourth. A single and hit batsman allowed two runners on base. But the Falcon infield minimized the threat with another double play, this time from the left side of the infield. A sharp hit by Lions left fielder Trevor Kibbee was fielded by third-baseman Ethan Bean, who tagged the runner advancing to third before throwing a dart to Wood at first base for the force out. A final groundout to pitcher Kaleb Friebe ended the frame without a run scored.

“This is the defense we see all the time and practice,” Coach Oeth said. “They’re quick. They’re surefooted. They know where to go with the ball. When we step up the way we do in practice, it’s exciting baseball. The double plays tonight really show who they are as defenders and really show how they can play. We’re going to give any team a hard time if we play that way.”

The Falcons added another run in the bottom of the fifth when LaValley delivered a two-out RBI-triple to score Quint from first base.

Fayette then strung together four hits, including a double by senior Dustyn Stark and a triple by Payton Oeth, with singles by Wood and Bean to plate three runs in the bottom of the sixth and all but secure the win.

All that was left for the Falcon defense was preserving the shutout. Friebe had so far pitched six shutout innings, allowing just four hits and three walks with five strikeouts. “I was really thrilled with the way he pitched. He made adjustments early after some struggles and kept throwing strikes. I was really happy the way he kept us in it,” Coach Oeth said.

But with a pitch count at 99, Elliott took the mound to finish out the win on senior night.

“I was really happy to get Tommy in there at the end. We haven’t used him on the mound as much this year so I was glad to get an opportunity to get him an inning on senior night,” Coach Oeth explained.

Elliott gave up a pair of singles and hit a batter to load the bases but struck out two and induced a final flyout to clinch the 7-0 victory.

Friebe claimed the win on the mound, his second in as many starts.

At the plate, the Falcons drove in five of their seven runs on seven hits with just two walks and four strikeouts. Bean led the way with the team’s only multi-hit game, driving in a run and scoring once. Oeth, Quint, LaValley, Wood, and Stark each had one hit and scored, with RBIs by Oeth, Quint, LaValley, and Stark.

Fayette was also able to hit with power, delivering three extra-base hits against a struggling Lions outfield. Stark doubled, and LaValley and Oeth each tripled.

The two-bagger was Stark’s first-ever varsity hit. The senior joined the team this year, having never played the game. His line drive to center landed him on second base and drove in a run in only his second career at-bat.

“Dustyn really stuck his neck out this year and tried something new,” said Coach Oeth. “He hadn’t played baseball before. He’s a great athlete. I was excited to see him come out and try something new, something hard.”

The Falcons were set to face a strong South Callaway team in a return to Central State 8 play on Tuesday after the Advertiser went to press. The Class 3 Bulldogs are 11-10 overall, having won five of their last seven games.

“South Callaway tomorrow is going to be tough,” Coach Oeth said. “They’re a good team. Our goal is to give them the worst night of their season. If they beat us, that’s fine. But we’re going to make it tough on them.”

On Thursday, Fayette plays its final home game of the season against Prairie Home (5-5-1). The Falcons, now 4-14 overall, have a chance to close their home campaign with a win but must play a tight defensive game.

“They’re always a tough squad, and they’re well coached. If we sleep on them, they’re going to hurt us,” said Coach Oeth.

Fayette will close the regular season at Pilot Grove (1-11) next Tuesday, May 13. Three days later, the Falcons will compete in the Class 2 District 7 Tournament.