By MATT KING/Daily Journal Sports Writer

Published: Sunday, April 03, 2005
Updated: Saturday, April 2, 2005 11:25 PM CST

HERCULANEUM - The Farmington Knights watched their offense endure its first struggle of the season on Saturday in a 3-1 loss to state-ranked Herculaneum as part of the Davenport Baseball Classic in Jefferson County.

A trio of young pitchers - Waylon Gonz, Marcus McDaniel and Derek Stroup combined to pitch a solid game for the Knights, allowing just five hits to the homestanding Blackcats. However, Farmington (4-1) only managed five hits of its own.

Herculaneum scored one run in the first inning and added single tallies in the fifth and sixth. Farmington scored its lone run in the fifth. Josh Kimrey had an excellent day at the plate for the Knights, going 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles. Schuyler Semar reached base three times with a single and two walks.

Farmington opened the tournament on Friday with two games at West City Park in Festus. The Knights slugged out 10 hits during their first contest on the way to an eventful 13-9 triumph over the Festus Tigers.

Matt Usherwood led the offense by going 3-for-3 with three RBI while Kimrey was 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBI. Kevin King also connected for a solo home run in the second inning.

Brent Baxley struck out three batters over five innings while giving up six hits and four walks, but got the win after the Knights broke an 8-8 tie with five runs in the sixth inning.

The nightcap on Friday saw the Knights score three runs in the fifth inning and four in the sixth to surge past previously unbeaten Kirksville, 9-4.

Stuart Sago struck out 10 batters while allowing four runs on six hits in a complete-game effort for his second win of the season. He also had a RBI single in the game.

Farmington broke onto the scoreboard with two runs in the second inning. Baxley drilled a RBI triple to right-center, then scored on a squeeze bunt by Josh Taylor. Kirksville scored three times in the top of the fifth, but Farmington equaled that feat during its half of the inning to regain the advantage.

Usherwood was 2-for-3 with two RBI while Baxley and Ross Wulfert were each 2-for-4. Luke Vogelsang also contributed a two-run triple.

The Knights will host Potosi in conference action on Tuesday.

Farmington 014 035 0 - 13

Festus 020 601 0 - 9

Hitting - Usherwood 3, Kimrey 2, Holman, Sago, Pannett, Rogers, King. 2b - Sago, Usherwood, Pannett, Rogers. 3b - Kimrey. HR - King (1).

Pitching - Baxley (W) 5i 8r 6h 3k 4bb, Boyer 1 1/3i 1r 0h 1k 3bb, Gonz (SV) 2/3i 0r 0h 1k 0bb.

Kirksville 001 030 0 - 4

Farmington 020 034 0 - 9

Hitting - Baxley 2, Wulfert 2, Usherwood 2, Kimrey, Boyer, Holman, Sago, Vogelsang. 2b - Boyer, Holman, Wulfert, Usherwood. 3b - Baxley, Vogelsang.

Pitching - Sago (W) 7i 4r 6h 10k 2bb.

Farmington 000 010 0 - 1

Herculaneum 100 011 0 - 3

Hitting - Kimrey 2, Semar, Gonz, King. 2b - Kimrey 2.

Pitching - Gonz 3i 1r 3h 1k 1bb, McDaniel 2i 1r 1h 1k 2bb, Stroup 2i 1r 1h 2k 1bb.