For all practical purposes, the outcome in Fallon’s Northern 3A East baseball game against Elko was decided in the first inning as the Wave cruised to a 6-3 win Wednesday at the Edward Arciniega Athletic Complex.
After spotting Elko a 2-0 lead in the first, Fallon scored four runs in the bottom of the inning, enough to give Greenwave pitcher Tyler Austin the win.
Austin fanned 14, walked four and allowed five hits over seven innings. He also drove in a run to help his cause.
Fallon improves to 4-3 overall and in league and travels to Elko on Saturday for a doubleheader. The first game begins at 11 a.m.
Austin walked the first two batters he faced in the first inning. Lincoln Ratliff grounded out to score Elko’s first run, and after Austin struck out Kaiden Cervantes, Trae Still scorched a hard line drive to center field to drive in Nick Collie, who had walked.
Austin’s teammates rallied around their starter in the bottom of the inning.
Matt Davis lined an 0-2 pitch for a triple to centerfield followed by Cooper Lee’s RBI infield grounder. Elko pitcher Dillon Eden then walked the next three batters to load the bases for Bryce Adams, one of two freshmen on the roster. Adams gave Fallon a 3-2 lead with a single to centerfield. Brady Alves, the other freshman, then laced a single to right field to double the lead.
Fallon added a run in the bottom of the third on Damien Towne’s single, and a final run in the fifth inning on Towne’s single to centerfield.
Larry Barker will broadcast Fallon’s doubleheader on Saturday on KKTU 99.5 FM and Network 1 Sports beginning at 11 a.m.
SECOND GAME — The teams played a second game, but the game will not count in the standings. Elko defeated Fallon, 18-15.
Coaches had decided to play the game to give each team’s reserve players more playing time.
Toby Anderson paced Fallon with a three-hit game and two RBIs. Baylor Sandberg, Francisco Tapia and Kodus Wehe each had two hits and drove in a run. Alves drove in three runs on two hits.
Cade Barton and Evan Crandall each finished the game with a hit and RBI, and Lucas Prinz knocked in a run.
Fallon, which fell behind Elko, tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with two runs. The visitors, though, scored three runs in the top of the seventh to seal the win.
