FAIRBANKS — The Athletes in Action Fire lost the second game of their five-game, four-day Alaska Baseball League series against the Anchorage Bucs at Growden Memorial Park on Thursday.

The Bucs put together two runs in the fourth, four in the fifth and three in the sixth to pull out the 9-4 victory over the Fire.

“Things just didn’t go our way,” AIA shortstop Cody Terry said. “They hit the ball well in key situations. They executed when we didn’t.”

The Fire scored first, in the bottom of the first inning, on an RBI single from Terry that bounced past the Bucs shortstop. The hit scored center fielder Ty Windall from second. Windall had singled on a full-count pitch to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Terry finished the night 2 for 4 for the Fire, reaching base three times and picking up one RBI. He also had the only two Fire errors.

In the top of the fourth, Bucs left fielder Eddie Rohan homered to left field, tying the game. Later in the inning, designated hitter Coley Crank scored on one of the Terry errors.

Fire pitcher T.J. Swank relieved starting pitcher Justin Denbow in the top of the fifth, but pitched just 1/3 of the inning after hitting two batters, walking one and giving up a single. The Bucs also scored a run on a wild pitch. Matt Addis entered and faced four batters before getting out of the inning. The Bucs had a two-hit, four-run fifth and led the Fire 6-1.

Addis then gave up four hits and three runs in the sixth, including a double to Crank that scored center fielder Sean Sullivan and shortstop Zach Vincej who had both singled to start the inning. At the end of six, the Fire were down eight, 9-1.

AIA managed one hit in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, but it wasn’t enough to rally back. The loss moves the Fire to 13-29 ABL (16-29 overall) and bumps the Bucs to 16-25 ABL (20-29 overall), clinching at least a fourth place finish in the league.

Windall had a 3 for 5 night from the plate for the Fire, and catcher Marc Schoch went 2 for 4.

Sullivan went 3 for 5, scoring two runs and stealing a base for the Bucs. Behind a 3-for-6 night, Vincej finished with two runs and two stolen bases.

Denbow picked up the loss from the mound after pitching four innings, giving up three hits and two runs. Chris Turner finished the game for the Fire, relieving Addis in the seventh.

Tyler Spurlin improved to 2-1 after recording the win for the Bucs. He pitched seven innings, gave up nine hits for two runs. He walked two batters and struck out four others.

The two teams battle in a 2 p.m. doubleheader today at Growden Memorial Park.

“I thought we put together good at-bats,” Terry said, “but tomorrow (today), we’re going to put everything together and do our best to come out with a win. We’ve got three games left. We’re going to finish strong.”

“We’ve got to get it done,” Fire designated hitter Aaron Parnell said. “We never give up. That’s what we’re all about.”

Panners fall to Pilots

Left fielder Jimmie Pharr of the Anchorage Glacier Pilots hit a three-run bomb in the bottom of the seventh, which pushed the Pilots over the first-place, visiting Alaska Goldpanners Thursday night, 4-2.

Panners designated hitter Jesse Sikorski had a 2 for 3 night at the plate, scoring one run and batting in another.

Right fielder Jarod Berggren also went 2 for 3 for the Panners.

The game was the last of the season for the Pilots, with the Mayor’s Cup Series against the Bucs starting on Sunday. They finished with a league record of 12-33 (15-38 overall). The Panners, now 29-12 ABL, head to Palmer to take on the Mat-Su Miners in a twinbill today.

The Miners trail the Panners by one game (28-13) after rallying to beat the Peninsula Oilers (29-15 ABL) 5-4 Thursday in the last Oilers game of the season.

Today’s doubleheader kicks off at 3 p.m. at Hermon Brothers Field.

Contact staff writer Renee Thony at 459-7583.