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Washington Evening Journal
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Fairfield softball splits with Keokuk
Trojans and Chiefs light up the scoreboard in SEC showdown
FAIRFIELD — Runs were flying to the scoreboard on Monday in Fairfield as the Trojans hosted Keokuk in a Southeast Conference doubleheader.
Fairfield clung on for a 10-8 win in Game 1. Keokuk got some revenge in Game 2 by beating the Trojans 2, 13-8.
Fairfield got out to a hot start in Game 1, scoring eight runs over the first two innings. The Trojans plated four each in the first and second frame, and threatened to approach the mercy rule before the Chiefs came roaring back.
Keokuk had the lead all the way down to two runs, at 8-6 after the top of the sixth. Fairfield put up two in the bottom half of the sixth, and Keokuk could only muster two more in its final at-bat.
“We hit the ball well, and we needed to, as it turned out,” said Fairfield head coach Bob Bradfield. “Keokuk has got several hitters.”
Morgan Ament had a big game on senior night, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in the win. Laney Norris was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Olivia Hollander went 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Leah Helmick knocked one in as well.
Coty Engle had two hits at the plate and picked up a win in the circle. She gave up eight runs (seven earned) over seven innings of work. Engle struck out four Chiefs.
The Trojans and Chiefs were tied 1-1 heading into the third inning in Game 2, and that’s when things got wild.
Keokuk scored two in the third and six in the fourth to take a commanding 9-1 lead, but Fairfield battled right back to cut it down to 9-6 with a five-run bottom of the fifth.
Keokuk put the hammer down with four in the sixth. Fairfield loaded the bases and scored two in the bottom of the seventh, but the Trojans ran out of outs.
“In the second game, our defense just let us down,” Bradfield said. “Our pitchers didn't throw that bad.”
Indeed, there were only two earned runs given up between the trio of Norris, Helmick and Claire Thompson in Game 2. Keokuk put the ball in play quite often, going through the entire game without a strike out.
Norris and Hollander each had two RBIs in Game 2, and Hollander had one of two team doubles. Lilly Bergren went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and Savannah Hollander finished 1-for-2 with an RBI of her own.
Fairfield moved to 13-13 after the split. In conference play, the Trojans are locked into third place with an 8-6 record.
