Fairfield gets it done

FAIRFIELD - When Burlington came into the Southeast Conference this season, it was well known the Grayhounds would be a tough out once softball season began. On Tuesday night, an experienced Fairfield squad helped to squander the Hounds' hopes of coming in and ruling the SEC right away, sweeping Burlington 5-2 and 11-4 in a home doubleheader and perhaps cementing themselves as the favorites for the conference crown.

The Trojans needed a strong pitching performance in Game 1, and they got that out of senior ace Allison Rebling. Rebling held the Grayhounds at bay all game long and Burlington never held a lead in the opener.

Coty Engle proved to be the only hitter who could knock in runs in the first five innings. She knocked in one run with an RBI double in the first inning, and after three quick innings, plated two more with another double in the fifth, giving Fairfield and early 3-1 lead.

Burlington made it a game in the top of the sixth, scoring two on an RBI double and placing the tying run in scoring position with nobody out, but Rebling escaped the rest of the inning and gave her team a chance to get those runs back in the sixth. Shay Drish came through with a two-RBI double of her own in the Trojans' final at-bat to give the defense two insurance runs.

'The first game was a pitcher's duel on both sides,” said Trojan head coach Bob Bradfield. 'We ended up scoring a few more runs, but Allison threw really well, again, which she has done every night out for us. Fortunately we finally broke through and scored some runs.”

The Grayhounds looked to be in control early in Game 2. The Grayhounds scored one run off Engle in the first inning, and after Jenna Norris scampered home to tie the game for Fairfield in the bottom of the second, Burlington added three runs in the top of the third to put the pressure on. In the middle of the third inning, the Hounds led 4-1.

In the bottom of the third, Delaney Breen collected an RBI with a bases-loaded walk. Hannah Simpson scored on a wild pitch, and the lead was down to one, at 4-3.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Trojans took the lead for good. Simpson tied the game on an RBI single. Norris gave Fairfield a one-run advantage on an RBI double to the fence. Breen, Allison Brynley, and Drish each knocked in a run, and it was 8-4 Trojans after four.

Simpson would help the Trojans pour it on in the later innings. She blasted a two-run home run to left-center field in the bottom of the fifth, and then plated the final run of the game on an RBI single in the sixth.

'Burlington has got a great program,” Coach Bradfield said after the sweep. 'They've got a good team. They've got a good coach. Their program is top knotch. To get two wins over them is great for our kids.”

Simpson had four RBIs on the night, all in Game 2, to lead the Trojans. Engle and Drish each had three RBIs. Breen and Brinley knocked in two apiece, and both Rebling and Norris finished with one.

Rebling gave up two earned runs on five hits and two walks in Game 1, and also finished the game with nine strikeouts. Engle gave up four earned runs on nine hits and three walks, while striking out six. Both pitchers threw complete games.

Fairfield is now 6-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play. They will play at Mt. Pleasant on Thursday in another SEC doubleheader.