Frankfort lacks aggression in 6-2 loss to Bridgeport

GRANVILLE, W.Va. — Frankfort manager Matt Miller wasn't happy with the lack of aggression at the plate in Friday's 6-2 loss to Bridgeport at the Mon County Mohigan Classic.

"We're taking too many good pitches," Miller said. "Last five games, we've taken fastball after fastball instead of attacking the baseball. When you play good teams, you can't give them strike one to start the at-bat, every at-bat by taking fastballs down the middle."

The Falcons (4-5) left seven runners on base across five innings.

Frankfort had runners on the corners in the third, a man on third in the fifth and a runner at second to end the sixth.

"That's the biggest factor tonight," Miller said. "We aren't gonna score runs off good teams if you don't attack the baseball. We haven't attacked the baseball the last few weeks."

The Indians (6-2) left 10 on base but scored six runs on 12 hits.

Blake Butcher was an out shy of a complete game, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks with 11 strikeouts for Bridgeport.

"I thought he was around the plate, and he battled back when he got behind," Bridgeport skipper Robert Shields said.

Bridgeport scored two runs in the first inning on an Owen Sondericker RBI knock and a fielder's choice.

Jaxon Hare doubled to left center to put the Falcons on the board in the third.

The Indians answered with an Anthony Julian RBI single in the bottom of the third to stretch its lead to 3-1.

Bridgeport's final two runs came on singles from Jackson McNally in the fourth and another by Sondericker in the sixth.

"I just thought we did a lot better job today executing running the bases, playing small ball a little bit," Shields said. "Doing a good job with runners in scoring position. I thought the kids one through nine battled throughout the lineup."

McNally, Sondericker and Luke Rohrig each had a pair of hits for the Indians.

Sondericker drove in two runs and stole three bases.

"They put barrels on the baseball, hit the ball where we weren't," Miller said. "Lot of singles to score runs. I don't think there was an extra base hit, there might've been one."

Jesus Perdew drove in Blake Jacobs on a line drive base hit to left in the top of the seventh for the Falcons' final run.

Perdew and Rhett Sensabaugh each had two hits for Frankfort.

Hare went four innings for the Falcons, allowing four runs on nine hits and a walk with three punchouts.

Hare stranded five runners and left a pair in each of the first two innings.

"Jaxon told me he wasn't hitting his spots like he normally does, so he was a little bit off tonight," Miller said. "But he pitched well enough for us to win. We just gotta hit the baseball."

The Falcons host No. 1 Allegany (6-3) on Monday at 6 p.m.

"We're playing for May," Miller said of the three-game losing streak. "We're gonna peak in May when we need to. We're gonna keep working hard and keep getting better. Our guys know how to handle adversity. We've done it in the past.

"Our schedule's gonna create some teams that are gonna be tough to beat sometimes. We're not gonna play any cupcakes, it's not gonna get us any better for a playoff run."

Philip Barbour 4, Frankfort 1

The Falcons dropped their second game of the tournament Saturday at Kendrick Family Ballpark, scoring one run in Landyn Carpenter's complete game.

The Philip Barbour arm allowed one unearned run across seven innings on just four hits. He struck out six and walked four.

Frankfort's lone run was pushed across on a sacrifice fly by Hare in the seventh inning.

Lanson Orndorf (Charleston signee) doubled to lead the Frankfort offense.

Orndorf went the distance in a losing effort. The right-hander gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits in six frames, fanning 11 and walking one.