WINNSBORO – After a last week’s rain extinguished Fairfield Central baseball’s Preseason Invitational Tournament, the Griffins faced Catawba Ridge in their season opener on Tuesday.
Held scoreless in the top of the first, Jacob McManus took the mound in the bottom of the frame. McManus faced five batters in the first, walking one and allowing a single, but striking out three to end the inning.
Catawba Ridge’s Harrison Wilson struck out the side to keep the score at 0 after the top of the second.
The Copperheads capitalized on Griffin errors in the bottom of the second to take a 1-0 lead. They added two in the third to extend the lead to 3-0.
Catawba Ridge added five runs in the fourth and sealed the deal with two in the fifth to end the game at 10-0.
McManus took the loss for Fairfield Central, pitching three and two-thirds innings. McManus faced 22 batters and struck out give. He walked three and allowed five hits and seven runs. Taylor Truesdale pitched one inning of relief. Truesdale allowed three hits and three runs while walking three and striking out one.
Dylan Kurtz’s single in the third inning was the Griffins’ lone hit.
Wilson picked up the win for Catawba Ridge, allowing only one hit in five innings and striking out 13.
The Griffins are slated to travel to Great Falls on Thursday and will return for their home-opener on Friday with a 6:30 game against Camden.