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Greiner roars, Demons win
Washington softball team knocks off nemesis Fairfield in SEC road games
FAIRFIELD — It hasn’t been easy sledding for the Washington softball program when it comes to earning wins against Highway 1 rival Fairfield. Entering Monday night, the Demons had won just one game against the Trojans in the last 16 tries.
“We haven't had much success in Fairfield over the years,” said Washington head coach Ben Obermann. “I think in my eight years here, we've won here once.”
Apparently, though, nobody told that to eighth-grader Colbie Greiner, who had quite a day against the Trojans. Greiner hit two home runs in an 11-9 Game 1 victory and followed by pitching a gem for a 6-1 win in Game 2.
Game 1 saw 20 runs cross the plate between the two teams, and nine of those came in the top of the second inning. The two teams went into the second frame tied 1-1, but Washington batted around to put up a nine-spot, which included a three-run bomb by Greiner, which easily cleared the left field fence.
“ (I'm seeing it) a lot better than I have been,” Greiner said. “I've been staying on top of the ball more and driving my hips through.”
Fairfield battled all the way back to cut it to two runs before the seventh inning. The Trojans scored three in the fifth and four in the sixth, including a two-out, two-RBI triple by Olivia Hollander in the bottom of the sixth.
All of that momentum was soon lost for the Trojans, however, as Greiner stepped up and launched another one, this time a solo shot that led off the seventh inning.
Coty Engle’s two-out RBI triple cut the lead back to two runs, at 11-9, but Washington pitcher Bella Salazar, who struck out 10, forced a pop up on the next at-bat, and the Demons took Game 1.
Greiner ended Game 1 4-for-4 with two homers, a double, four RBIs and three runs scored. Alyvia Anderson was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, and Ella Greiner went 2-for-4 with a couple of RBIs as well.
Fairfield’s Morgan Ament went 3-for-4 with a triple, a double and four RBIs. Laney Norris went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Lilly Bergren tallied a pair of hits and three runs scored.
In Game 2, it was Greiner’s arm that did the work. The eighth-grader held Fairfield to just one run in the game, and Greiner struck out five batters over a seven-inning shut out performance.
“We have a lot of faith in Colbie,” Obermann said. “She pitched really well this weekend in Jesup for us, and she can spin it.”
Salazar was 2-for-3 with two RBIs in Game 2. Ella Griner, Colbie Greiner and Emery Walton all had RBIs.
For Fairfield, Leah Helmick, another eighth-grader, was 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the team in Game 2. Engle was 1-for-4 with a double, and Norris gave up six runs (three earned) over seven innings in the circle.
The wins moved Washington to 14-8 overall and 7-1 in conference play. Fairfield is 8-7 overall and 3-5 in the SEC.
