Dragons use explosive fifth inning to get past Panthers

CHESAPEAKE — In the big inning…

The Fairland Dragons used a big 6-run fifth inning to beat the Chesapeake Panthers 9-5 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.

Fairland (6-8, 4-4) led 3-1 when the fifth inning rally opened the game up.

The scoring onslaught was highlighted by Tanner Brown who drove in a pair of runs on a single and Josh Gillespie doubled to score a pair of runs. Nolan Fleming collected the final RBI for the Dragons with a single into right to make the score 9-1.

However, the Panthers made it interesting with a run in the fifth and 3 more in the sixth.

Gillespie went 5 innings for the win as he gave up just 4 hits, one earned run with 5 strikeouts and a walk.

The Dragons had 9 hits with Landon Evas going 3-4 with a triple, Brown 1-3 with 2 RBI, Chase Lapole 1-2 and an RBI, Gillespie 1-4 with a double and 2 RBI, Fleming 1-4 with an RBI, Titus Martin 1-3, Ayden Napier 1-4 with an RBI and Cyrus Cummings had an RBI.

Chesapeake (7-10, 2-7) was led by Colten Hoffman who was 2-3 with a double and Anthony Horan 2-3 with an RBI. Clay Wagner was 1-3, Mason Budd 1-3 with a double and K.J. McClain 1-3 with an RBI.

Fairland 021 060 = 9 9 5

Chesapeake 001 013 = 5 7 3

Josh Gillespie, Cyrus Cummings (6), Tanner Brown (6) and Cyrus Cummings, Josh Gillespie (6). Peyton Muncy, Kaden Perkins (5), Colten Hoffman (6) and Joe Cremeans. W-GIllespie (IP-5.0, H-4, R-2, ER-1, K-5, BB-1). Cummings (IP-0.1, H-2, R-3, ER-3, K-1, BB-0). Brown (IP-0.1, H-1, R-0, K-0, BB-)). L-Muncy (IP-4-0, H-3, R-3, ER-2, K-4, BB-4). Perkins (IP-1.2, H-6, R-6, ER-6, K-0, BB-0). Hoffman (IP-0.1, H-0, R-0, K-0, BB-0). Hitting–Fairland: Tanner Brown 1-3 2-RBI, Chase Lapole 1-2 RBI, Josh Gillespie 1-4 2B 2-RBI, Nolan Fleming 1-4 RBI, Titus Martin 1-3, Landon Evans 3-4 3B, Ayden Napier 1-4 RBI, Cyrus Cummings RBI; Chesapeake: Clay Wagner 1-3, Mason Budd 1-3 2B, K.J. McClain 1-3 RBI, Colten Hoffman 2-3 2B, Anthony Horan 2-3 RBI.