Fairfield softball goes 1-1 in Oskaloosa tournament

OSKALOOSA — The 10th-ranked Fairfield softball team won one and lost one in a weekend tournament at Oskaloosa. On Saturday, the Trojans started hot and hung on for a 5-3 win over Creston in the morning, closing the day with an 11-5 loss to No. 2 Carlisle.

Coty Engle was strong in the circle against Creston. The Trojan sophomore shut the Panthers down for the first five innings, allowing her squad to take an early lead.

Fairfield scored two runs in the first inning, two in the third and one in the fifth to go up 5-0. Creston scored three unearned runs in the final two innings, plating one in the sixth and two in the seventh.

Emersyn Manley led the Trojan offense in the win, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Peyton McCabe was 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Jenna Norris was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Hannah Simpson finished the night 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles.

Engle threw all seven innings for the Trojans, giving up three unearned runs on three hits and striking out a 19 Creston batters.

The second-ranked Carlisle Wildcats showed why they are so far up in the Class 4A rankings. The Wildcats scored four runs in the first inning, one in the second and three in the third to take an 8-0 lead.

Fairfield battled back, plating three runs in the fourth to cut the advantage to 8-3, but the Trojans could never make up for their early-inning woes.

The Trojans had just four hits against Carlisle pitching. Engle was 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI, and Manley stayed hot, going 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs. Engle was 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Danielle Breen went 1-for-2 with an RBI, and Simpson finished 1-for-3.

Bailey Hird had a tough time against the Carlisle offense, giving up 11 runs (six earned) on nine hits and one walk.