Trailing by a run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, Fayette senior Ethan Bean drove in two runs on a line drive to center field to open a three-run rally that ultimately led to a 4-1 win for the Falcons over Higbee.

Fayette starts the season 1-0 after the victory on its home turf. Higbee starts the season 0-2 after falling 15-0 at Salisbury on Thursday.

“Everybody came in with the right mindset today. Even when there were some struggles, we didn't let that knock us off the wall,” said Fayette coach Andy Oeth.

Bean’s two-run single would have been enough to claim the win. But the Falcons added another run in the bottom of the fifth when senior Payton Oeth scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Sawyer Asbury. Fayette added a final run on an RBI single by Oeth with two outs to score senior Caleb Craig.

“We had a lot of guys contribute at key moments,” Coach Oeth said. “We got a little worried there at the beginning because we loaded the bases. And another time we got two runners on and couldn't capitalize. But then they just started moving them along. They came up clutch in those later innings. That's the team we are.”

Higbee scored the first run of the game in the top of the fourth. With one out, Junior Quintin Deschu stole third on a passed ball, then slid into home plate as Fayette catcher Parker LaValley bobbled the throw to home.

The score was a bright spot in an otherwise unproductive offensive performance by the Tigers, who struck out 15 times and finished the game with just two hits.

Deschu and sophomore Chase Price each finished 1-for-2.

“We have to find a way to put the ball in play more. Fifteen strikeouts in seven innings is too much,” said Higbee coach Ryan Vogelgesang.

Junior Cale Nelson pitched a complete game for the Tigers, allowing four earned runs on four hits with six walks and six strikeouts in six innings.

Higbee has three games in four days next week before playing two games in the CLAA Conference Tournament on Saturday in Mendon. With that intense schedule, Vogelgesang said the one strategic option was to keep Nelson under 60 pitches to have him eligible for the mound on Tuesday. “If we were in a game, we were prepared to throw him for more than 60,” he said. “We were in the game, and he looked competitive. We decided to let Cale ride, and he competed all six innings. He has No. 1 stuff, velocity plays, and stuff plays. And he showed it today.”

The Falcons drove in four runs on six hits, led by Oeth, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and an intentional walk. Bean added one hit with a game-high two RBI. Senior Caleb Craig led off with a 1-for-1 performance with two runs scored and walked three times. LaValley went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Batting ninth, sophomore Morgen Campbell went 1-for-3 with a single in the bottom of the second.

Bean led the Falcons on the mound, striking out five of 10 batters faced over the 2.2 innings. He left the mound after 43 pitches to keep him eligible to start again on Monday at New Franklin. Bean allowed no hits or walks and issued just two walks.

“Striking out the guys that he did kept us in it,” Coach Oeth said about his right-handed starter. “And on the offensive side he broke it open. That's the performance you want out of your top-of-the-staff guy. He did a really great job.”

Battermate Payton Oeth struck out a game-high eight batters over the next 3.2 innings, surrendering two hits and earning the win. Sophomore Easton Fehling earned the save, striking out the final two batters of the game.

“We were excited to be able to accomplish our goal. We wanted to keep Ethan [Bean] and Payton [Oeth] under 45 pitches so we can use them again on Monday. They both did a great job of keeping us in the game,” said Coach Oeth.

The Falcons travel to rival New Franklin on Monday for a 5 p.m. non-conference matchup. It will be the first game for the Bulldogs, who own a 6-0 record against Fayette over the past six seasons. New Franklin won a 3-8 decision at Fayette in last year’s season opener.