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Trojans take 2
Fairfield softball team sweeps Mt. Pleasant
MT. PLEASANT — After an uncharacteristically slow start to the season, the Fairfield softball team has hit its stride. The Trojans moved their winning streak up to five games in a row with a pair of wins over Mt. Pleasant on Monday night.
The Trojans piled up the runs in a Southeast Conference doubleheader, beating the Panthers 16-5 in Game 1, and 12-5 in Game 2.
“We've been hitting the ball better,” said Trojan head coach Bob Bradfield. “When you have seven new hitters in your lineup, it takes a little while to get going.”
Game 1 was all Fairfield early. The Trojans piled up 12 runs in the first three innings, scoring six in the second and six in the third.
The game nearly closed out at 12-0, as the Trojans threatened the three-run mercy rule. However, with two outs in the bottom of the third, Mt. Pleasant’s Addison Clark blasted a solo shot off the scoreboard to make it 12-1.
The Panthers would then fight back from the 10-run mercy rule by scoring two runs in the fourth to cut it to 12-3, and answering Fairfield’s two runs in the fifth by plating two of their own to make it 14-5.
The Trojans added on two more in the sixth to close out the 10-run rule.
Faith Jones finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Trojans. Olivia Hollander was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Emmelia Miller had two RBIs, and Lilly Bergren tallied two hits and an RBI.
Coty Engle threw all six innings for Fairfield, giving up five runs (one earned), while striking out two batters in the win.
Clark led Mt. Pleasant, going 2-for-3 with a homer and an RBI. Saige Burchett was 1-for-3 with two RBIs, and Keagyn Keagyn Coleman went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and Saige Burchett finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Mt. Pleasant’s Tyi Alter pitched 4.2 innings for the Panthers, giving up 10 runs (eight earned).
“The first game, the wasn't real consistent, and we didn't help the pitching with our defense either,” said Mt. Pleasant head coach Mike Beason. “But we did hit the ball a little bit. For the most part, I'm proud of the way we hit all night.”
Game 2 was a high-scoring back-and-forth affair. Fairfield led 5-3 after one inning, 6-4 after two and 6-5 after three.
The Trojans turned it on defensively after that, and Fairfield added four runs in the fifth and two in the sixth to put the game away.
Starting pitcher Laney Norris helped her own cause, going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs to lead the Trojan offense in Game 2. Bergren had a double and two RBIs. Maddy Martin had two RBIs. Faith Jones tallied two hits and an RBI, and both Morgan Ament and Leah Helmick knocked in runs.
Engle came in to relieve Norris in the bottom of the third inning. She gave up no runs in her relief appearance.
The 16 runs in Game 1 and 12 runs in Game 2 were the Trojans’ highest offensive outputs so far this season.
“We started off with not that much varsity experience,” said Bergren after the win. “Now, everyone in our whole lineup is batting really well.”
Burchett went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs to lead Mt. Pleasant in Game 2. Clark was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Jayden Housh and Ella McNamee each knocked in runs, and Emma Starr finished with two hits.
Jolynn Martin gave up 12 runs (five earned) over seven innings for the Panthers. She struck out six Fairfield batters.
With the win, Fairfield moved to 11-9 overall and 6-5 in the SEC. Mt. Pleasant fell to 4-18 overall and 1-10 in league play.
