ROME TOWNSHIP — When Fairland’s hits started to fall, so did the New Lexington Panthers.

Scoreless after three innings, the Dragons offense got going and beat New Lexington 12-8 in the Division III sectional tournament Tuesday.

“We were hitting the ball, it just wasn’t falling in,” said Fairland coach Roger Snyder. “They hit the ball but right at us and that kept us in the game until we got going.”

New Lexington broke a scoreless tie with four runs in the third inning, but Fairland got three runs in the fourth inning.

Chris Barnett doubled, Tyler Thackston walked and Robbie Easterling had an RBI single to start the inning. Zach Jordan delivered a two-run single that scored Thackston and pinch-runner Chris Ward.

Fairland took a 7-4 lead with four runs in the fifth inning.

Mike Zundel walked to open the frame, Cole Hatfield singled and Barnett walked to load the bases. Thackston smacked a two-run double and a throwing error on the play scored Barnett.

Easterling’s base hit scored Thackston.

The Dragons opened up a 12-4 lead with five runs in the sixth inning.

Jordan started the inning with a triple and came home on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Godby.

Adam Berry walked, Hatfield singled, and a hit by Barnett scored Hatfield and pinch-runner Will Lively. Zach Matasich walked and came home on a hit by Thackston with Easterling getting an RBI single to cap the rally.

The Panthers (10-10) got two runs in the top of the seventh before Barnett came on in relief. An error scored two runs, but Barnett retired three straight batters to end the game.

Nate Burcham went 6-plus innings to get the win.

Thackston was 3-3, Barnett and Jordan 2-3, and Hatfield and Easterling 2-4 for the Dragons.

Fairland (15-6) plays at Belpre Friday in the sectional finals.

New Lexington0040004=881

Fairland000345x=12122

Korrol Dixon, Brett Wycienski (6) and Jacob Wollenberg. Nate Burcham, Chris Barnett (7) and Tyler Godby. W-Burcham (2-K, 2-BB). Save-Barnett (1-K, 0-BB, 0-H). L-Dixon. 2B-Fairland: Chris Barnett, Tyler Thackston. 3B-Fairalnd: Zach Jordan. Hitting-New Lexington: Travis Cook 1-3, R.J. Starkey 1-4, Jake Wollenberg 1-3, Cody Wilson 1-3, Derek Cozad 2-4, Alex Howdyshell 2-4; Fairland: Cole Hatfield 2-4, Chris Barnett 2-3, Tyler Thackston 3-3, Robbie Easterling 2-4, Ethan Long 1-4, Zach Jordan 2-3.