Keokuk flusters Fairfield offense

The Trojans? varsity softball team was stymied offensively on Thursday night, as Keokuk?s Makenzie Pezley and Jakala Hall held Fairfield without a single run through two games.

The Chiefs? offense got to Alli Deao early in game one, forcing across six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Five of the eight runs that Keokuk scored against Deao were earned. The senior allowed seven hits and struck out three Keokuk batters over three innings of work. Brynna Bowman stopped the bleeding, throwing the final three innings and allowing only one run for Fairfield.

Bowman also was the only Trojan to get it going offensively, picking up two doubles in the game. Deao collected the only other Fairfield hit in the first game.

Haley Beard had an excellent game in the circle in the nightcap, throwing 8 2/3 innings of work and allowing only one unearned run to score in the bottom of the ninth, as Keokuk collected the walk-off win. The junior struck out 11 batters and walked only one in the hard luck loss.

Offensively, Kaylee Watson solved Hall?s pitching, smacking three hits and a double for the Trojans. Kenady Waugh and Ashtyn Drish also picked up hits for Fairfield in the loss.

The doubleheader loss knocks the Trojans down to 7-5 on the season and Fairfield will play in their home invitational beginning tonight at 5:30 p.m. with a game against Pekin. Also playing in the invite are: Cardinal, Chariton, New London, Washington, West Burlington and Wilton.

The losses will likely drop the Trojans further down the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union rankings, as the Trojans sat at No. 5 in class 4A in last week?s ranking. Keokuk was ranked No. 9 and Mt. Pleasant was seventh.

The Panthers won their doubleheader with Washingotn on Thursday to extend its lead on the Southeast Conference. The Panthers will come to face Fairfield on Monday in a pivotal series for the Trojans to get back in the SEC race.