The last time the Fayette Falcons were on a baseball field another loss in a string of 20 was added when the Harrisburg Bulldogs defeated the Falcons 20-3. The Falcons’ losing streak stretched back to April 16, 2021, with a 25-3 loss to Westran. Twelve days prior to that, the Falcons had won their second game of the season, on a forfeit. 

While winless in seven starts this season, there seems to be a different air surrounding this team. Players seem to be more focused, they seem to pull more for one another. And they seem to be able to see a bright future on the horizon. 

Monday, all the hard work paid off as the Falcons went to Paris and came home with a 16-0 win over the Coyotes.

Senior Tyler Bartholomew took the mound against Paris and went three innings striking out four and giving up only three hits. Sophomore Jayden Shiflett took over in the fourth inning striking out the side.

The Falcons gave Bartholomew a huge lead even before he took the mound, scoring 10 runs in the top of the first inning. Fayette tacked on three more in the second and added one in the third before plating two more in the fourth. The 10-run rule mercifully ended the game after Paris batted in the fourth.

Junior Haden Kelly paced the Falcon offense, belting two homers and driving in five runs. Senior Dalton Collins went three-for-four with three RBI. Junior Gage Sulltrop only had one hit, but it was a big one as he hit a grand slam in the first inning. Senior Chris Brown and freshman Kaleb Friebe each contributed a double.

Fayette traveled to Jamestown on Tuesday for a game that was to be contested after The Advertiser went to press. The Falcons return home this afternoon to host Marceline at 5:30 p.m.

Thursday

What began as a close game exploded into a rout last Thursday as the Harrisburg Bulldogs put together six runs in the fifth, and nine in the seventh to defeat Fayette 20-3.

Harrisburg took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when sophomore right fielder Isaac DeMuth singled and stole second. Junior shortstop Brayden Ott then singled DeMuth home for the first run of the game. The Falcons ended the inning with two groundouts to junior shortstop Gage Sulltrop.

Fayette wasted no time in coming back to gain a lead. Sophomore Jayden Shiflett led off the bottom of the first with a single and stole second before senior left fielder Dalton Collins drew a walk. Shiflett and Collins executed a double steal to move both runners into scoring position. Junior Haden Kelly then drove home a run with a hit to center. Senior Chris Brown grounded out to the shortstop sending Collins home and giving Fayette a 2-1 lead at the end of one.

Harrisburg regained the lead in the top of the second when junior Logan Fritts singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Hunter Cole. Junior designated hitter Joshua Cochran reached on an error that also moved Fritts to third. Fritts then scored on a passed ball. Following a strikeout by Bulldog senior Tanner Lanes, Cochran scored on another passed ball to give Harrisburg a 3-2 lead. Junior Anthony Alicea walked and was able to advance all the way around the bases, when DeMuth walked and Fayette had two more passed balls. 

Fayette was unable to score in the bottom of the second, ending the frame with Harrisburg leading 4-2.

Both teams showed up defensively in the third as Harrisburg managed to send just four batters to the plate and Fayette only three.

Harrisburg tacked on another run in the top of the fourth when Alicea circled the bases on a fielder’s choice, a stolen base, and an error. Fayette came right back in the bottom half of the inning with a run of its own when senior Tyler Bartholomew singled and stole second before classmate Logan Wiswall lined a double to right to plate Bartholomew. The inning ended with Harrisburg leading 5-3.

In the top of the fifth, Harrisburg sent 11 batters to the plate. Six of those batters managed hits, with Ott getting the only extra-base hit, a doube to left. Harrisburg garnered six runs during the inning, five were earned. The inning ended with Harrisburg leading 11-3.

In the seventh inning Harrisburg erupted for nine more runs on five hits. Cole notched the only extra-base hit in the inning while the Bulldogs benefitted from having four batters reach after being hit by pitches, and one on a catcher’s interference call.

Fayette could not mount an offensive surge in the bottom of the frame and the game ended with Harrisburg handily ahead 20-3.

Harrisburg sophomore Bremer paced both teams with three singles and four RBI’s. Teammates DeMuth, Ott, Fritts, Cole, and Cochran each added two hits apiece while Alicea and senior Trevor Smoot each contribute one.

Smoot started on the hill and went 5.2 innings, striking out six and giving up seven hits before giving way to Hunter Cole. Cole managed two strikeouts and gave up no hits during his time on the mound.

Jayden Shiflett and Haden Kelly each had two hits for the Falcons. Logan Wiswall added the only extra-base hit with an RBI double. Sophomore Kaleb Friebe and Tyler Bartholomew both added singles.

Junior Haden Kelly took the loss for the Falcons, giving up 10 hits in 4.2 innings of work. Dalton Collins came on in relief in the fifth inning and went 1.1 innings, allowing two hits before giving way to junior Mason Sappington who finished up the game giving up three hits in one inning.

Harrisburg traveled to Russellville on Tuesday for a game contested after The Advertiser went to press and will host Knox county at 5 p.m. on Thursday.

After traveling to face Jamestown on Tuesday after The Advertiser went to press, Fayette will host Marceline tonight on Estes Field at CMU at 5:30 p.m.