Simpson, Manley blast Fairfield past Washington

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield softball team entered its last offensive inning against Washington down three runs in Game 2 of Thursday night’s Southeast Conference doubleheader. Two bombs later, it was a four-run victory.

With two on and one out, Hannah Simpson launched a 3-run opposite field home run to turn an 11-8 deficit into an 11-11 tie. Four batters later, Emersyn Manley ended it with a walk-off grand slam.

The Trojans won Game 2, 15-11, which followed up a 6-1 win in Game 2.

Fairfield trailed by five runs at one point in Game 2, but Simpson’s first homer of the day changed that. Down 6-1, Simpson opened up the bottom of the third with a two-run homer. That would be Simpson’s first of the game, and her second of three bombs on the day.

“I don't try to hit home runs,” Simpson said. “If it goes it goes, but it's good when it goes.”

Simpson’s next blast came in her final at-bat. Washington had scored three runs in the top of the seventh to approach the doorstep of victory, but Fairfield’s bats were red-hot.

After Simpson’s game-tying bomb, the next three Trojans reached base. That left it up to Manley, who delivered with the biggest hit of her career.

“I didn't even know it was out until I looked out and one of my friends was holding it and dancing with it,” Manley said. “I was like, 'oh yeah!'”

Simpson finished 3-for-5 with two homers and five RBIs. Manley was 3-for-4 with a double, a bomb and five RBIs of her own. Danielle Breen knocked in two, and Delaney Breen got the win in the circle.

Washington’s Ella Greiner was 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the loss. Emmy Wenger went 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Isabella Salazar, Haley Mitchell and Alyvia Anderson knocked in one run apiece.

The Trojans were held relatively silent by Washington’s Halle Cuddeback in Game 1, but a three-run third paced Fairfield to victory.

Coty Engle went 3-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored in Game 1, and also won the game for the Trojans on the mound, giving up just one earned run in a complete game.

Simpson was 1-for-4 with a two-run bomb. Brynley Allison was 2-for-3 with one RBI. Manley and Jenna Norris each knocked in one, and Payton McCabe scored two runs.

Cuddeback went 1-for-2 with an RBI for the Demons in Game 1. She also gave up six earned runs over 5.2 innings in the circle.

Fairfield (9-5, 4-2) will play at Mt. Pleasant (1-11, 0-8) on Tuesday. Washington (4-14, 2-6) hosts Keokuk (4-10, 2-5).