Fairfield softball wins at CCA tourney

TIFFIN — After a Southeast Conference win against Mt. Pleasant on Thursday, the Fairfield softball team was right back at it on Friday, winning two games at the Clear Creek-Amana tournament.

The Trojans ran roughshod over West Branch, beating the Bears 13-2 in six innings. They took down Iowa City Regina in a defensive struggle, winning 4-2.

Against West Branch, Fairfield struck first with a two-run single. Starting pitcher Bailey Hird shut the Bears out through four innings, and the Trojans put up three in their half of the fourth to take a 5-0 lead.

The West Branch offense struck in both the fifth and sixth innings, but Fairfield punched back harder in both frames. The Bears put up one run in the fifth, but the Trojans scored three to make it 8-1 Fairfield. The Bears scored one in the sixth, but the Trojans answered with five.

Hannah Simpson had a monster game for the Trojans. She went 2-for-5 with a triple, a double and five RBIs.

Danielle Breen went 2-for-3 with a solo home run. Delaney Breen was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Emerson Manley went 2-for-4, and Coty Engle, Peyton McCabe, Brynley Allison and Savannah Hollander all knocked in runs.

Hird pitched a complete game, giving up just two runs (one earned) on six hits. She struck out one West Branch batter.

All six runs scored in the Regina game happened in the first three innings. The game was tied 1-1 after the first frame, but Fairfield took the lead with a three-run top of the third to go up 4-1. Regina scored one in the bottom of the third but that was the last run of the ballgame.

Engle pitched a gem in the circle, giving up just two earned runs on four hits and four walks over six innings of work. She struck out 11 Regina batters.

Manley went 2-for-2 with two RBIs to lead Fairfield. Simpson was 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Engle had two hits, and Jenna Norris knocked in one run.