The Fayette Falcons are 2-0 on the season after picking up a 14-3 win over area rival New Franklin in six innings on a cold Monday night game on the Bulldogs’ field.

New Franklin ace Lane Hackman left the game as a precaution after sustaining an injury during an at-bat in the bottom of the third inning. The pitching change gave way to 13 runs for the Falcons over the next three innings, paving the way for Fayette’s first win over the Bulldogs since 2019.

A bases-clearing, three-run triple in the fifth inning by junior Parker LaValley broke the game wide open for the Falcons.

“That's something we believe he can do regularly,” said Fayette coach Andy Oeth. “That's the kind of hitter he really is. I don't think he lived up to what he wanted to last year, but we're going to see a lot more of this. He's put in a lot of work in the off-season in every aspect of his game. And with his speed, if he can get the ball in the corner somewhere, he's at least going to get a double.”

LaValley’s two-out, bases-loaded triple scored three of Fayette’s five runs in the inning, making the score 9-2 as New Franklin struggled on the mound amid a committee of relief pitching.

Hackman, the Bulldogs’ senior ace, cruised through the first three innings, allowing one unearned run while striking out eight of 14 batters faced.

“Lane's a great pitcher, and he kept us off balance. That's what makes him so good. When he was out, we were able to capitalize on some other pictures,” Coach Oeth said.

New Franklin coach Erich Gerding explained that Hackman was pulled primarily as a precaution after straining a hip flexor during a hefty swing in his second at-bat of the night.

“You generate that power as a right-handed hitter in that right hip. He was having problems with it. He took a big cut there, and it hurt him,” Gerding said. “At the same time, Fayette played really well. They were the aggressor, and they looked like they wanted it more than us. We had a few deflating things happen, and Fayette came through with some big hits. We didn't get those. In general, we gave up way too many free bases. It was pretty sloppy.”

Four New Franklin pitchers combined to surrender 13 runs (10 earned) and walked in four runs over the next three innings, as the Bulldogs struggled to find the zone.

Gerding said the plan was to work Hackman for around 75 pitches over four or five innings. The lefty was on point in his senior debut, striking out the side in the second inning. But his abrupt absence seemed to take the wind out of the Bulldogs’ sails.

“We gave up three consecutive big innings after that. The amount of free bases we gave up in the field was atypical and evidence of a lack of being on the field and everyone being at practice,” Gerding said. “But with a fall season, we should have been more prepared, and we weren’t. Credit to Fayette. They looked good and, most importantly, hungry. The LaValley kid had a day.”

And while the Falcons took advantage of New Franklin’s mound trouble, Coach Oeth said his team would have rather earned the win the hard way, with Hackman on the mound. “I hate to see him hurt. The guys even said that if we get the win, we would rather do it with Lane in the game. Being challenged by him is important.”

Offensively, New Franklin drove in three runs on four hits and struck out nine times. Sophomore Caylub Cox was the only multi-hit Bulldog, going 2-for-3 with an RBI from the No. 9 spot. Senior Nolan McGowan went 1-for-3. Sophomore Jonah Bishop had one hit in two at-bats with a run scored but was thrown out trying to steal second.

Fayette ace Ethan Bean earned his first win in his second start of the season. He left the season opener against Higbee on Saturday after just 43 pitches against 10 batters with five strikeouts to remain eligible for Monday’s game. Against the Bulldogs, the lanky right-hander retired seven batters on strikes, surrendering three runs (1 earned) on three hits while issuing four walks in five complete innings.

Batteyrmate Payton Oeth pitched the sixth and final inning, striking out two of three batters faced to end the game with Fayette on top by 14-3.

“We kept [Ethan Bean] in there because he was doing well and was keeping runs down,” Coach Oeth said. “I felt like we could've left him in if we really wanted to. I wanted Payton to at least throw a little bit tonight to get some work in. Those two will go back-to-back on Monday and Tuesday.”

At the plate, Fayette took advantage of New Franklin’s cadre of young relief arms. The Falcons blasted eight of their nine hits after Hackman left the game, including a double by senior leadoff Caleb Craig and the triple by LaValley.

LaValley led Fayette with an outstanding performance, going 4-for-4 with a game-high six RBI, a walk, and a run scored. Junior Thad Quint went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore Morgen Campbell scored three times and drove in two runs with a 1-for-2 night with a walk. Craig walked three times while producing one extra-base hit in two at-bats with a pair of runs scored. Sophomore James Hogg added a single in a 1-for-3 performance with two runs scored.

But despite scoring 14 runs on nine hits and 11 walks, the Falcon lineup struck out 13 times.

“I'm thrilled with how the guys capitalized on some things. But we have a lot of work to do. We have to stop watching strikes go down the middle,” Coach Oeth said. “If it's in the strike zone, they should be putting the bat on the ball. We will get there. We are hungry hitters.”

Fayette starts the season 2-0 for the first time since 2018 and the first time under Coach Oeth. The Falcons open Central State 8 Conference action against another area opponent at Harrisburg (0-2) on Monday before returning home to face Linn (2-1) on Tuesday. Harrisburg has had an uncharacteristically bad start to the season, losing the opener 8-0 at Slater and falling 28-9 to Northwestern Mendon in the home opener on March 20. But the Bulldogs will have had 10 days to regroup before facing the rival Falcons at home.

New Franklin doesn’t get much time to rest. The Bulldogs host Jamestown on Thursday and travel to Sedalia to play Sacred Heart on Friday. Next week, the Bulldogs play three games in four days, starting with a road trip to open Central Activities Conference play at Madison on Monday, followed by back-to-back home games against Prairie Home/Bunceton on Wednesday and CAC rival Glasgow on Thursday.