Opening split

Jamestown's Danny Fischer wasn't perfect, but he wasn't ever shaken.

The right-hander escaped a handful of dangerous situations from the mound and picked up a 2-1 victory in what proved to be a pitcher's duel in the front end of Monday's doubleheader with Fargo Post 2.

"I was just trying to be around the plate," said Fischer. "I'm not going to blow anything by anyone. I don't think I struck out a batter, so the credit goes to my teammates because they made all the plays behind me."

Fargo responded with a convincing 8-2 win in the nightcap to leave Jamestown with a split.

Jamestown 2, Fargo 1

Fischer went the distance scattering six hits and giving up just one unearned run in the third inning.

His final jam came in the seventh inning when he walked Brady Horner, Fargo's No. 9 hitter, and hit leadoff hitter Kris Haarstad to put two runners on base. But then Fischer worked his magic, getting the next two batters to fly out, sealing his second victory in as many starts this season.

"There's nothing you can do when you get yourself in those messes," he said. "You just have to bear down and pitch your way out of it."

Fargo put early pressure on the Wolfpack by putting runners on the corners in the first inning but a one-out grounder back to Fischer allowed him to turn the 1-6-3 double play to escape with no damage, something that would become a trend throughout the game.

Fischer gave up a couple more hits in the second inning but shortstop Riley Schaefer picked him up by fielding back-to-back groundouts to keep the game scoreless.

"Danny went out threw his butt off just like I always expect from him," said Post 14 coach Shane Schoeneberg. "We also played really good (defense) behind him."

Fargo finally got to Jamestown when Jared Quinlan, who reached on a one-out single to right field, scored from first base on a past ball and an error.

The Fargo right fielder advanced to third after Jamestown catcher Brady Anderson couldn't find the ball near the backstop and made an errant throw to third to allow Quinlan to put Post 2 up 1-0.

"I always tell (Fischer), 'So what. If the guy gets a hit, so what,'" said Schoeneberg. "You have to make the pitch and be mentally tough out there."

The score stood until the home half of the fourth when Jamestown used two hits and one costly error to push two runs across the plate to give the Wolfpack their first and only lead of the game.

Fischer helped his own cause by leading off the inning with a single but he quickly moved up to third base when Dakota Walker chopped a grounder that turned into a two-base error after an erratic throw to second base.

Brandon Gange drove a deep sacrifice fly to center to score Fischer and Anderson drove in the game-winning run with a single up the left side.

"Coming off the mound losing and then coming on the mound with a 2-1 lead is pretty big," Fischer said.

Fischer followed up the two-run inning with his first one, two, three inning of the game in the top of the fifth before working his way out of trouble in the sixth and seventh to close out the game.

Bryce Venaas suffered the loss for Post 2 after allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits and five strikeouts.

Anderson went 1 for 1 with an RBI, while Gange drove in a run after going 1 for 3. Fischer had two hits and scored once.

Fargo 8, Jamestown 2

Post 2 opened up its offense early in the second game to ensure Jamestown wouldn't walk away from the field with a sweep.

Fargo put up three runs in the first and four in the third on its way to an 8-2 victory.

Post 2 third baseman Mike Jones took a pitch opposite field for a two-run homer in the first to put Fargo up 3-0.

Matt Wawers also took a ball out of the yard in the third, a two-run shot over the right-centerfield wall, to put Post 2 up 5-0.

Fargo (3-3) pushed two more runs across on two Jamestown errors to leave the Wolfpack looking up at a seven-run deficit.

Jamestown (2-2) nearly put up a big inning of its own in the second when Chris Lane stepped to the plate with one out and the bases loaded, but a hard hit line drive was snagged by Jones at third to start a double play and end the inning.

"I thought (hitting-wise) in the second game we looked a lot better," Schoeneberg said. "We had six hits and a couple untimely double plays."

Jamestown had similar fortunes in the fourth when Lynch lined out to third and Jones threw over to first to double off a retrieving Lane, but not before Kasey Gengler and Jake Stilwell drove in runs to cut the score to 7-2.

Gange started the inning with a double to left and Anderson walked to open the door for Gengler to drive in Jamestown's first run with a double to left. Stilwell grounded out, but Anderson, who was standing on third, was still able to score.

Fargo put one more run in the fifth while Jamestown was held scoreless the remainder of the way.

Wawers finished the day 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Jones, who also had two RBIs, finished 1 for 4. Jones also scored two runs.

Chase Johnson pitched through the fifth for Fargo to earn the win before Brent Horner relieved him in the fifth. Johnson struck out three while giving up two runs on six hits and two walks.

Schaefer was saddled with the loss after going the complete game for Jamestown allowing eight runs on seven hits.

"He also did a pretty good job," Schoeneberg said of his young hurler. "A couple times he left the ball up, and for any pitcher that's going to hurt you, but he battled his butt off, too."

Jamestown will quickly have the chance to bounce back from the loss as Post 14 returns to action today on the road against West Fargo.

"I told the guys, 'You've got to come to the ballpark and be mentally focused for 14 innings,'" said Schoeneberg. "It's early in the year and we always have room to improve."

Jamestown 2, Fargo 1

Fargo 001 000 0 -- 1 6 1

Jamestown 000 200 X -- 2 4 1

Bryce Venaas, and Matt Fiechtner. Danny Fischer and Brady Anderson. W--Fischer. L--Venaas.

Fargo 8, Jamestown 2

Fargo 304 010 0 -- 8 7 1

Jamestown 000 200 0 -- 2 6 3

Chase Johnson, Brent Horner (6) and Andy Schweigert. Riley Schaefer and Brady Anderson. W-Johnson. L-Schaefer. 2B: Fargo, Jordan Gefron; Jamestown, Danny Fischer, Brandon Gange, Kasey Gengler. HR: Fargo, Mike Jones, Matt Wawers.

Records: Fargo Post 2 3-3. Jamestown Post 14 2-2.

Sun sports writer David Griswold can be reached at (701) 952-8462 or by email at dgriswold@jamestownsun.com