Trojan softball drops game 1, bounces back in game 2

FAIRFIELD — As high school softball continues to move along, Fairfield continues to battle for the top of the Southeast Conference.

On Thursday, the Trojans slugged it out with the Chiefs of Keokuk in an SEC doubleheader. By the end of the night, Fairfield had split with Keokuk. The Trojans came up short in game one, 4-2, but bounced back in the second with a 5-1 win.

The two teams went scoreless in the first two innings of game one, but in the third it was Keokuk that would answer first.

Keokuk got runners in scoring position, but Fairfield’s ace Coty Engle got a strikeout and fielders choice at third to mark the second out of the inning.

With just one out needed to successfully get out of the jam, Keokuk did not oblige.

On the next at-bat, Keokuk sent a ball to deep left center that ended up just clearing the fence for a three-run homer.

Now sitting with a 3-0 deficit, the Trojans had to grind their way back and they came so close.

After a scoreless fourth, the Trojans cut it to one, 3-2, after bring two runs home in the fifth.

Keokuk sat Fairfield down in the sixth, with three straight pop ups and added an additional run to their total off a solo shot to center in the top of the seventh.

With one final chance to win the game in their half of the seventh, Fairfield needed to put some runners on the bases and they did.

To start the inning, Fairfield got the tying runs on as Savannah Hollander and Engle were both walked. Following a fly ball out, Hannah Simpson delivered with a single to load the bases.

The Trojans fell just short though, as Keokuk was able to escape the inning with a strikeout and a fly ball.

Simpson and Peyton McCabe both had a pair of hits in the loss. Simpson tallied the Trojans lone RBI. Engle, Delaney Breen and Savannah Hollander all finished with a single hit.

Engle pitched all seven innings for the Trojans. She gave up nine hits, four runs, five walks and five strikeouts.

In game two, the Trojans did what they needed to do to pick up a victory.

Fairfield held Keokuk scoreless for five innings in the game, giving up just one run in the top of the sixth.

On the contrary, the Trojans did their scoring in the first three innings.

The Trojans scored one run in the first inning and after going run less in the second brought four home in the third.

Delaney Breen, Jenna Norris and Peyton McCabe all had two hits in the win. Norris also had a pair of RBIs. Emersyn Manley, Danielle Breen and Brynley Allison each ended with one hit. Manley had an RBI as well. Simpson also tallied a single RBI.

Laney Norris was in the circle for six innings. She gave up six hits, one run, six walks and three strikeouts. Delaney Breen also threw for an inning. She ended with one strikeout.