Fairfield taken out by No. 6 Keokuk in SEC finale

KEOKUK ? Sixth-ranked Keokuk scored three unearned runs to spoil a complete game two-hitter by Fairfield?s Haley Grunwald and win a 3-2 game to open Thursday?s Southeast Conference doubleheader.

The Chiefs (22-10, 12-2 SEC) scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth and then went on to complete the sweep with a 10-4 victory in the nightcap.

?We played pretty well, but some of those errors came at the wrong time and they scored their runs,? said Fairfield head coach Bob Bradfield. ?Other than that, we made the plays and Haley threw very well hitting her spots.?

Brittany Craff extended her season and career-record home run totals with a solo shot in the opener. Haley Williams was 2-3 with a triple in the game.

The Keokuk bats warmed up big time in the nightcap as the Chiefs pounded out 15 hits and jumped out to an early lead before putting the game away late. Mackenzie McClure was in the pitcher?s circle for Fairfield (14-21, 5-11), lasted four innings and gave up six earned runs.

Sydney Burnett broke out of a slump to go 2-3 with double while Taylor Neil was 2-4 with another two-bagger.

The loss was the eighth-straight for the Trojans, who finish the SEC season with a 5-11 record and a likely fourth-place finish ahead of Mount Pleasant.

Next up will be two games at the Ottumwa Classic Saturday. Fairfield is scheduled to play Cardinal at 12:30 p.m. and the host Bulldogs at 4 p.m.

Fairfield vs. Keokuk (1st game)

Fairfield ? 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 ? 2 6 4

Keokuk ? 0 2 0 0 0 1 X ? 3 2 1

FAIRFIELD ? Repp 1-4, 2B; Anderson 2-3, 2B; Craff 1-2, HR; H. Williams 2-3, 3B

Pitching ? Grunwald (L) 6 INN, 2H, 0ER, K, BB

Fairfield vs. Keokuk (2nd game)

Fairfield ? 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 ? 4 8 1

Keokuk ? 2 2 0 1 5 0 X ? 10 15 2

FAIRFIELD ? Repp 1-4; Anderson 2-4; Craff 1-2, 2B; Burnett 2-3, 2B; Neil 2-4, 2B

Pitching ? McClure (L) 4 INN, 3BB, 9H, 6ER; Grunwald 2 INN, 6H, 3ER