Top ranked teams deliver two losses to Fairfield

IOWA CITY ? The Fairfield softball team had the top ranked team in Class 3A on its heels over the weekend but couldn?t quite seal the deal.

With a 2-0 lead and just one out, the Trojans loaded the bases against host Clear Creek-Amana, but couldn?t add to the lead. From there, the Clippers rallied and scored five runs in the final two innings to take a 5-2 victory. With the loss, Fairfield went 2-2 to finish eighth in the tournament ? the only other loss coming to second-ranked Carlisle.

The loss to Clear Creek-Amana was preceded by an opening round 3-0 victory against Cedar Rapids Prairie on Friday evening. Meredith Flattery?s RBI double scored one run and Brittany Craff drove in the other two. Mackenzie Laux pitched the seven-inning shutout and recorded eight strikeouts.

Allison Delker and Laux each drove in a run while Rachel Robinson pitched the first 4 1/3 innings against Clear Creek-Amana. Laux relieved Robinson for the final 1 2/3 innings but gave up three runs and was charged with the loss.

Saturday began with an 8-0 pasting of Pleasant Valley to advance Fairfield onto the fifth-place match against Carlisle. Flattery once again ripped a double that scored two runs in the win, and Tori Ogden also drove in two runs. Heather Mason, Craff and Robinson each recorded a hit while Laux fired another seven-inning shutout featuring four strikeouts.

Katie Anderson, Jessie Cay and Craff led the five hit offense against second-ranked Carlisle as Robinson pitched six innings giving up eight hits and striking out two in the 5-0 loss.

With an encouraging weekend at the plate behind them, the Trojans hope they can keep it going in tonight SEC doubleheader against 10th-ranked Fort Madison.