By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

GALLIPOLIS — Alex Thackston came up big on the mound, but the Fairland Dragons couldn’t come up big at the plate.

Thackston struck out 10 and walked two but suffered the loss as the Gallipolis Blue Devils edged the Dragons 3-2 on Thursday with a run in the seventh inning.

“We put the ball in play and we hit a couple of balls hard right at them, but we couldn’t get the big hit,” said Fairland coach Bryan Ward.

Gallipolis (7-3) got the winning run in the bottom of the seventh after the first two batters struck out.

Bryant Bokovitz singled but his ball got through to the fence for a two-base error. Brandon Taylor then beat out an infield hit as Bokovitz scored.

Gallipolis got a run in the first and Fairland (5-2) tied the game in the third on a single by Evan Russell, Blaine Fuller’s sacrifice and Eric Riley’s base hit.

The Blue Devils added a run in the fourth but Fairland tied the score again with a run in the sixth.

Thackston had a leadoff double, Kyle Raines walked and Josh Ross grounded out as the run scored.

Fairland 001 001 0 = 2 5 1

Gallipolis 100 100 1 = 3 6 1

Alex Thackston and Josh Ross. Jimmy Clagg and Ty Warnimont. W-Clagg (K-5, BB-2). L-Thackston (K-10, BB-3). 2B-Fairland: Alex Thackston. Hitting-Fairland: Alex Thackston 2-3, Eric Riley 1-3 rbi, Kyle Raines 1-2, Evan Russell 1-2; Gallipolis: Ty Warnimont 2-3, John Faro 1-3, Justin Bailey 1-3 rbi, Bryant Bokovitz 1-2, Taylor 1-2 rbi.