COAL GROVE — Alex Thackston didn’t take the day off, it just felt like that.

Thackston got plenty of run support as the Fairland Dragons blanked the Coal Grove Hornets 11-0 Wednesday.

“We played well and they gave us a few runs early that allowed Alex to relax. He hasn’t been able to do much of that. He’s always been in a tight game,” said Fairland coach Bryan Ward.

Thackston gave up just three hits as he struck out nine, walked one and hit one. Coal Grove pitchers combined to walk nine, strike out seven and hit three batters.

Fairland (8-3, 5-1) went up 1-0 in the first inning when Thackston walked, Matt Campbell singled, Terry Duty was hit by a pitch and Brandon Begil drew a two-out walk to force home the run.

The game remained 1-0 until Fairland scored three in the fourth inning.

Eric Riley was hit by a pitch, Javier Roe hit into a fielder’s choice, Jon Baise walked and Thackston had an RBI single. Chad Fisher walked, Campbell was hit by a pitch to score Baise and the third run scored on a wild pitch.

The Dragons blew the game open with five runs in the fifth inning.

Tanner Sowards singled, Riley walked and Baise had a two-run single. Thackston doubled home Baise, Fisher singled to load the bases and Campbell had a two-run single.

The final two runs scored in the seventh when Begil doubled, Thackston and Fisher singled and Campbell and Kyle Raines walked to force in runs.

Coal Grove (5-8, 4-3) hosts St. Joseph Friday.

Fairland 100 350 2 = 11 9 2

Coal Grove 000 000 0 = 0 3 2

Alex Thackston and Matt Campbell. Jake Murphy, Wayne Sparks (5), Jared Eldridge (7) and Wayne Sparks, Jake Murphy (5). W-Thackston (9-K, 1-BB, 1-HBP). L-Murphy. 2B-Fairland: Jon Baise 2, Alex Thackston. Hitting-Fairland: Jon Baise 3-4 2-RBI, Alex Thackston 2-3 2-RBI, Chad Fisher 2-4, Matt Campbell 2-3 2-RBI; Coal Grove: Justin Hern 1-3, Wayne Sparks 1-3, Jared Eldridge 1-3.