By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

AID — There are no moral victories, but this one did something good for Symmes Valley’s morale.

The Vikings bounced back from an 11-1 loss to Green on Wednesday as they battled hard before losing 7-5 to the Fairland Dragons Thursday in a game called after five innings due to darkness.

“We might have lost, but we played much better. I was proud of our effort,” said Vikings’ coach Chad Renfroe. “We played well and we hit the ball really well.”

The Vikings out-hit the Dragons by one with Jacob Patterson and Luke Taylor each going 2-3. Patterson had a double, a home run and four runs batted in while Taylor also had a double.

Alex Thackston got the win for Fairland as he struck out five, walked four and hit a batter. Taylor took the loss as he fanned three, walked just one and hit a batter.

The Vikings (1-5) jumped out to a 3-0 lead as Patterson crashed a three-run homer after Cody Myers singled and Taylor reached on an error.

But the Dragons (2-3) came back to take the lead with four runs in the third inning.

Brandon Begil double, Jonathan Holbrook singled and Tanner Sowards reached on an error as a run scored. Thackston singled home two runs to tie the game, Chad Fisher was hit by a pitch and an error scored the final run.

Symmes Valley tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Taylor singled and came around on a passed ball, ground out and wild pitch.

The Dragons took the lead for good with three runs in the fourth.

Begil walked, Holbrook singled, they moved up on a passed ball and Cory Barker had a two-run single. Barker went to third on a ground out and a passed ball and scored on Thackston’s hit.

Taylor and Patterson had back-to-back doubles in the fifth inning for the Vikings final run.

Holbrook was 2-2 and Thackston 2-3 to key the Dragons’ 7-hit attack.

Symmes Valley visits Western Friday in a league game.

Fairland 004 30 = 7 7 1

Symmes Valley 301 01 = 5 8 2

Alex Thackston and Matt Campbell. Luke Taylor and Jacob Patterson. W-Thackston (K-5, BB-4, HBP-1). L-Taylor (K-3, BB-1, HB-1). 2B-Fairland: Brandon Begil; SV: Luke Taylor, Jacob Patterson. HR-SV: Jacob Patterson. Hitting-Fairland: Brandon Begil 1-2, Jonathan Holbrook 2-2, Eric Riley 1-3, Cory Barker 1-3; Symmes Valley: Cody Myers 1-2, Nathan Dockery 1-2, Luke Taylor 2-3, Jacob Patterson 2-3, Evan Herrell 1-2, Alec Herrell 1-2.