PITSBURG – On the strength of a big five-run fifth inning, the FM baseball team erased a 2-1 deficit and went on to win 6-2 over Twin Valley South to open up WOAC League play.
The Jets opened the season with a non-league 10-0 win over Houston, then dropped a game to Fort Recovery 7-14, and now stand at 2-1 on the year.
Twin Valley South came into the game with a 2-0 record with a doubleheader win over Mt. Healthy.
Junior pitcher Brandt Filbrun took the bump for the Jets, and he would turn in a solid game to register a 6-2 win over Twin Valley South.
With the Jets leading 1-0, Twin Valley South got a single from junior Aiden White with one out. Sophomore Parker Howard grounded to third base and reached on a throwing error to score White, and he advanced to second base as the Panthers tied the game at one each.
Senior Dustin Miller doubled to center to score Howard to put South up 2-1.
Franklin Monroe trailed 2-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, and they would have a big inning to take control of the game.
Back-to-back walks to by South pitcher Dustin Miller to senior Chase Stebbins and sophomore Braden Gilbert saw runners at first and second with just one out.
Brandt Filbrun doubled to center, scoring Stebbins for the tying run, and Gilbert goes to third base.
Twin Valley South Junior Tyler Wampler came in to relieve Miller. FM senior Matthew Hurley singled, scoring Gilbert, and Filbrun scored on an error to go up 4-2.
Hurley stole second, and then on back-to-back wild pitches, he advanced to third and then home, pushing the lead to 5-2.
Senior Parker Patrick then drew a walk, stole second, and scored on a single to center from junior Landon Osborne, giving Franklin Monroe a 6-2 lead.
Franklin Monroe head coach Tyler Zimmerman was pleased that his team stayed focused on a windy, rainy, and dreary day until their bats came alive in the 5th inning.
TV South got out of the inning when Wampler coaxed a grounder for a double play.
Filbrun retired the Panthers in order at the top of the sixth inning, and Braden Gilbert would come on in relief in the seventh inning, also retiring the side in order to pick up the save.
Filbrun threw 6 innings, gave up just 3 hits and had 11 strikeouts. Both runs scored were unearned.
