FAIRBANKS — Tyler Windall’s fielder’s choice drove home the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning, as the Athletes in Action Fire pulled out a 6-5 victory against the Anchorage Bucs in Wednesday night’s opener of a five-game Alaska Baseball League series at Growden Memorial Park.

Fire relief pitcher Chad Fromm earned the win while working 2 2/3 innings and Bucs reliever Brandon Lodge took the loss following a one-inning stint.

Ryan Matthews paced the Fire’s offense with three hits in four at-bats, driving in three runs and scoring two, including the game-winner. Sean Sullivan led the Bucs with a 2-for-5 night with two RBI and a run scored.

The Fire, 13-28 ABL and 16-28 overall, close out the regular season against the Bucs (15-25, 19-29) with tonight’s 7 o’clock contest; a doubleheader at 5 p.m. Friday and a single game at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Panners wrap-up

The Alaska Goldpanners are hoping to clinch the Alaska Baseball League regular-season title as they finish with five road games in three days.

The Panners, who are aiming for a berth in the National Baseball Congress World Series next month in Wichita, Kan., take on the Anchorage Glacier Pilots at 7 tonight at Mulcahy Stadium.

The ABL leaders head north to Palmer for back-to-back, regular-season ending doubleheaders against the Mat-Su Miners at Hermon Brothers Field. The teams battle at 3 p.m. Friday and are slated for a 1 p.m. start Saturday.

The Goldpanners, at 29-11 league, are 1 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Peninsula Oilers and two games in front of the Miners. Mat-Su blanked Peninsula 2-0 Wednesday night in Palmer.

The ABL champion and runner-up qualify for the NBC World Series, which begins Friday and runs through Aug. 13. The ABL runner-up is scheduled to play its first game in Wichita on Tuesday, and the ABL champ opens play there Wednesday.

Contact the Daily News-Miner sports department at 459-7581.