Road Warriors down Fairbanks 8-6, then get rained out

WASILLA - Wasillas Alaska Road Warriors climbed back to .500 Sunday morning with a rain-soaked 8-6 victory over Fairbanks Tri-Cities at Bumpus Ballfields in Wasilla.

The game lasted only five innings because of a preset time limit. The second game was canceled because of rain.

After Fairbanks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Wasilla tied the game in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by first baseman Luke Mossburgh.

The Road Warriors then took a 2-1 lead when Mossburgh stole second and Josh Rockey scored on the catchers throw to second.

Tri-Cities rallied to take a 5-2 lead into the third inning, when Rockey cut the deficit to two runs with an RBI single. Fairbanks still clung to a 6-5 advantage after the top of the fifth, when the weather began to take its toll.

The Road Warriors scored three two-out runs in the fifth, an inning with two Fairbanks throwing errors and two pitches from Tri-Cities hurler Chris Zachgo which failed to reach the dirt around home plate.

It was really wet for those guys out there, said Wasilla manager Pete Powell with a grin. Youve got to learn to play in the mud.

Center fielder Brett McCarthy drove in the tying run with a single, and then came around to score the winning run on a throwing error by Fairbanks first baseman Doug Lamb.

Lamb had retrieved the ball after Zachgo threw it over his head on a play at first.

McCarthy managed to slip and slide his way to home plate, falling down at third on the way and then coming up a few feet short on a headfirst slide into home and crawling across the dish to win the game.

The Warriors then added another run for the 8-6 win.

The key for the Warriors was the top three batters in the order. The first three hitters in the order went a combined 8 for 9 Sunday, with four runs scored and four RBIs.

Shortstop Dale Bennett went 3 for 3 with three runs scored, second baseman Rockey hit 3 for 3 with a run and three RBIs, and Mossburgh had two singles and a run batted in.

The bottom two-thirds of the order mustered only two hits.

Levon Bryan pitched five tough innings for the Warriors to earn the victory, surrendering nine hits and three walks while striking out two.

Zachgo went the distance for Fairbanks, striking out six while giving up 10 hits and three walks.

The win pushed Wasillas winning streak to five games and evened their record at 11-11.

At least were back into .500, said Powell.

After checking out the field between games, Powell decided to call off the second half of the twinbill after talking to the umpires and the Fairbanks manager.

The Road Warriors try to continue their winning ways in home doubleheaders against Seward at 1 p.m. today and against Kenai at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

All four contests are at Bumpus Ballfields in Wasilla.

Alaska Road Warrior team leaders are as follows:

Average Dale Bennett, .434.

Runs Owen Butcher, 20.

Hits Dale Bennett, 23.

RBIs Dale Bennett, 24.

Home runs Tyler Jorgensen, 5.

Stolen bases Owen Butcher, 17.

The Road Warriors are 69 of 70 in stolen base attempts.

The team has hit 11 home runs this season. Photo: Wasilla right fielder Roy Friesen flies out to right during Sundays game against Fairbanks Tri-Cities. The Road Warriors beat Fairbanks Tri-Cities 8-6 Sunday morning, but the second game of the doubleheader was rained out.Photo by TOM SPOTH.