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Fairfield softball sweeps Mt. Pleasant
Trojans take four in Southeast Conference road trip
Andy Krutsinger
Jun. 8, 2021 12:20 am, Updated: Jun. 8, 2021 12:36 pm
MT. PLEASANT — It was all Fairfield at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex on Monday as the third-ranked Trojan softball team swept the Panthers, winning games 17-1(6) and 14-0(4).
Fairfield was hot at the plate early and often. In Game 1, the Trojans scored three runs in the first inning, six in the second, three in the third and five in the fourth.
Delaney Breen and Hannah Simpson led the charge for the Trojans in Game 1. Breen went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and Simpson was 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs of her own.
Peyton McCabe was consistent at the plate for the Trojans, going 2-for-2 with three RBIs in Game 1.
Coty Engle scored a team-leading four runs, and also cruised in the pitcher’s circle, giving up just one earned run on two hits and two walks, while striking out seven.
Mt. Pleasant’s lone run came in the bottom of the second. After the Trojans plated three in the first, the Panthers cut the lead back to two when Madison Helling knocked in Emma Starr after Starr got on with a single. Grace Kelley also had a double in the game for the Panthers.
Helling and Katherine Wilson both pitched for the Panthers in Game 1.
The Trojans’ lead was just 1-0 with two outs in the top of the third in Game 3, but the Trojans caught fire with a six-run third.
Simpson once again had four RBIs in the game, but this time they all came in one swing of the bat. She launched a grand slam to right-center, which broke the game open.
“I kind of had a slump early on,” said Simpson. “It’s kind of nice to build my confidence back up.”
Simpson says she has switched her approach to looking for more base-hits.
“I have to change my mindset a lot,” Simpson said. “I’ve been thinking base hits. If it goes over, it goes over.”
Jenna Norris went 2-for-4 with three RBIs for the Trojans in Game 2. Engle and Breen each had two RBIs.
Bailey Hird had a nice outing for Fairfield in the circle, giving up just four hits and one walk in a six-strikeout shut out performance.
“The best thing about that game was that Bailey pitched a really good game,” said Fairfield head coach Bob Bradfield. “That’s really something that is good for our team. You’ve got to have two pitchers.”
Mt. Pleasant had six hits in the loss. Starr, Kelley, Savanah Walls, Jersey Beachy, Ella McNamee and Courtney Raub all contributed a single. McNamee, Helling and Starr split time in the circle.
“I applaud the girls for their attitudes,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Mike Beason. “I thought their emotions were high, and they brought the energy. We just couldn’t get that third out sometimes.”
Fairfield is now 5-5 overall and 3-1 in Southeast Conference play. Mt. Pleasant is 0-10 on the season, and 0-4 in the conference.
Fairfield’s Hannah Simpson launches a home run during the Trojans’ sweep of Mt. Pleasant on the softball diamond on Monday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant’s Savana Walls fields a grounder during the Panthers’ home doubleheader against Fairfield on Monday. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Fairfield’s Peyton McCabe throws a Mt. Pleasant runner out at first on Monday. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant’s Ella McNamee throws a runner out at first on Monday. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)