The Fairfield softball team defeated McClain, 13-3, under the lights Friday, then lost a tough one in extra innings Saturday to Lynchburg-Clay, 4-3.
The Fairfield jayvees also defeated McClain, 14-4, in six innings. Rilee Quickle picked up the win as Addison Bales hit a grand slam and Kyla Thomas also homered for Fairfield.
In the varsity contest Fairfield (4-1, 1-0 SHAC) also won in six innings. The Lady Lion offense was the star of the game scoring 13 runs on 19 hits. All nine batters in the Fairfield lineup had hits. Sydney Hooper and Jobey Hattan each had four hits and Faith Miller collected three hits.
McClain scored two runs in the top of the first inning to take the lead. Fairfield scored one run in the bottom of the first inning as Hooper led off the game with an infield hit and later scored on a single by Hattan.
The Lady Lions took the lead with three unearned runs in the bottom of the third inning. Quickle and Hattan singled, Emmi Vance doubled into the right center field gap, and Miller singled.
McClain plated a run in the top of the third inning on singles by Gracie Bowers and Harley Peabody to close the gap to 4-3. But that was as close as they would get as Fairfield exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, all with two outs.
Jaylie Duncan singled, Hooper singled, Quickle singled, Hattan tripled, and Sydney Sanders singled.
Fairfield pitcher Katelyn Chambliss blanked McClain in the fifth and sixth innings and the Lady Lions closed the game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hattan singled to lead off the inning and Sydney Sanders blasted a home run over the left center field fence to make the score 11-3. Miller singled, Duncan was safe on an error, Chambliss singled to center field to drive in Miller, Carly Sanders reached on a fielder’s choice and Hooper had an infield single to score Duncan with the game-ending run.
Chambliss (4-1) was the winning pitcher for Fairfield. In six innings she allowed three earned runs on five hits and five walks, while striking out four.
Gracie Bowers suffered the loss for McClain. In 5.6 innings she gave up 13 runs (nine earned) on 19 hits with no walks or strikeouts.
McClain was 1-1 in the Frontier Athletic Conference and 2-2 overall after the loss.
On Saturday, Fairfield junior Chambliss and Lynchburg Clay freshman Noel Barnhill battle for nine innings in a makeup game after they were rained out Thursday.
The game was a flash back to the late 1990s and early 2000s when Fairfield and Lynchburg-Clay competed every year for the top spot in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference.
Sophia Michael singled to right field with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Lynchburg-Clay the win.
The Lady Mustangs scored two unearned in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Kami Collins was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Caitlyn Collins laid down a bunt and was safe on an error as Collins scored. Collins stole third base and scored on a ground ball out to the right side of the infield by Autumn Griffith.
Both pitchers were virtually unhittable in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings. Hattan doubled for Fairfield in the top of the fourth inning and Barnhill doubled for Lynchburg-Clay in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Fairfield’s bats finally came alive in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Quickle singled and stole second base. Hattan doubled to deep center field to score Quickle. Hattan stole third base and later scored on an infield single by Vance.
The game remained 2-2 into the top of the eighth inning. Quickle led off the inning with a single and later stole second base. Syndey Sanders doubled to drive in Quickle and give Fairfield a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth inning Madison Baker singled with one out. Miranda Smith laid down a bunt, but Fairfield third baseman Quickle made an outstanding defensive play on the bunt forcing Baker at second base. Brya McClain then doubled to deep right center field to score Smith from first base to tie the score 3-3.
Barnhill set down the Fairfield batter in order in the top of the ninth inning. With one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Lynchburg’s Griffith drew a base on balls. Barnhill and Avery Blankenship had back-to-back singles to load the bases. Sophia Michael stepped to plate and hit ground ball single to right field to give the Lady Mustangs the 4-3 victory.
Leading hitters for the Fairfield Lady Lions: Quickle (2 for 3, walk, 2 runs), Hattan (4 for 2, double, 1 run, 1 RBI), Sydney Sanders (1 for 4, double, 1 RBI), Vance (1 for 4, 1 RBI), Chambliss (1 for 3).
Leading hitters for Lynchburg-Clay: McClain (1 for 4, double, 1 RBI), Kami Collins (0 for 3, 1 run), Caitlyn Collins (0 for 3, 1 run), Griffith (0 for 3, 1 run), Barnhill (2 for 4, double), Blankenship (1 for 4), Michael (2 for 4, 1 run), Madison Baker (1 for 3), Miranda Smith (0 for 1, 1 run).
Barnill (1-4) recorded the win for Lynchburg Clay. In nine innings she allowed three earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out 12.
Chambliss (4-2) suffered the loss. In 8.3 innings shoe allowed four runs (two earned ) on seven hits and on walk while striking out nine.
Submitted by Thomas E. Purtell, Fairfield softball.
