ANDERSON – A Pendleton leadoff-single and subsequent homerun in the bottom of the first inning foretold the Griffins’ fate in their first game of the South Carolina High School League’s 3A playoffs.
Fairfield Central would never recover from the 2-0 deficit, falling 11-1 to Pendleton and sending them into the elimination bracket.
Despite putting runners on in the first two innings, Fairfield found themselves down 5-0 in the top of the third before a Curtis Sampson leadoff homer put the Griffins on the board.
Taking advantage of four walks in the bottom of the frame, Pendleton plated four more runs to go up 9-1 with four innings left.
The Griffins were able to settle in and quiet the Bulldog bats, even with a bases-loaded threat in the bottom of the fourth. With two runs added in the bottom of the sixth, Pendleton took the win.
Pendleton’s pitching proved too much for Fairfield as three bulldog pitchers faced 23 batters for a combined for a 10 strikeouts. They allowed only two hits on the night, a single from Warren and Sampson’s blast in the third.
Graeme Douglas took the loss on the mound for Fairfield Central. He worked two innings, allowed five hits and five runs (2 earned). He walked one. Sampson and Woodard both threw in relief. Sampson walked three and allowed one hit and four runs. Woodard struck out one, walked three, and allowed eight hits and two runs.
The loss puts Fairfield in tonight’s elimination game against Berea. Pendleton’s win pits them against Clinton.
