PROCTORVILLE — What looked like it would backfire turned out to be a wildfire.

The Dragons were without a baserunner for three innings, then erupted for seven runs in the fourth inning and burned the River Valley Raiders 7-1 Monday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“(Assistant coach) Bryan Ward said, ‘Every time we work on this field to get it ready it backfires on us.’ Right after he said that we scored seven runs,” said Fairland coach Roger Snyder.

The game was scoreless until Zac Jordan walked to start the fourth inning inning. Zach Matasich singled and Robbie Easterling belted a three-run homer. Tyler Thackston followed with a solo shot and it was 4-0.

Tyler Godby doubled and scored on a one-out single by Adam Berry. Nate Burcham reached on a fielder’s choice and Chad Fisher had an RBI single. Jordan capped the rally with a sacrifice fly.

“We hit bullets the first three innings but right at people. In the fourth inning it seemed like we couldn’t make an out,” said Snyder.

River Valley spoiled the shutout in the sixth inning when Clayton Curnutte walked, stole second base, then stole third base and scored when the throw went into left field.

Godby got the win with five innings of work. He struck out six, walked four and allowed the only River Valley hit. Godby also had two of Fairland’s seven hits.

The Dragons are now 7-1 in the OVC, one-half game ahead of Rock Hill and one and one-half game up on Coal Grove.

Fairland (11-3) plays at Coal Grove on Wednesday. Rock Hill plays at Coal Grove at noon on Saturday after being rained out on Monday.

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Eric Caldwell and Austin Justice. Tyler Godby, Nate Burcham (6), Robbie Easterling (7) and Zach Matasich, Tyler Godby (6). W-Godby (6-K, 4-BB, 1-H). L-Caldwell (0-K, 2-BB). 2B-Fairland: Tyler Godby. HR-Fairland: Tyler Thackston, Robbie Easterling. Hitting-River Valley: Chris Mizner 1-3; Fairland: Zach Matazich 1-3, Robbie Easterling 1-3, Tyler Thackston 1-3, Tyler Godby 2-3, Adam Berry 1-2, Chad Fisher 1-3.