The Fairfield Lady Lions continued their five games in five cities in five days road trip Tuesday as they travelled to Fayetteville and came away with a 13-1 Southern Hills Athletic Conference victory.
Fayetteville entered the game with an undefeated record and Fairfield was looking to rebound from two disappointing losses.
Fairfield’s pitching ace Katelyn Chambliss was brilliant in the circle, scattering five hits and limiting the Lady Rockets to a single unearned run. With only two strikeouts, the Lady Lion defense played extremely well. Center fielder Sydney Hooper looked like Willie Mays running down fly balls in the gaps and in front of her collecting five putouts for the game. But it was the Lady Lion offense that was the difference with timely hitting and aggressive base running to score 13 runs.
Fairfield scored three runs in the top of the first inning. With one out Rilee Quickle drew a base on balls and Jobey Hattan tripled to right field to score Quickle. Faith Miller and Emmi Vance hit hard ground balls and were safe on errors to score Hattan and Miller.
Fayetteville scored its lone run in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs and no one on base, Kaydence Crampton singled and Kenly Polston was safe on an infield error. Izabella Waddle doubled to knock in Crampton, but Chambliss enticed Victoria Thompson to ground out to shortstop Hattan.
Fairfield scored two more runs in the third inning. Hattan doubled, Miller singled and Vance singled.
Fairfield widened the score to 10-1 with five runs in the top of the fourth inning on no hits. Sydney Hooper, Hattan and Sydney Sanders were all hit by pitches and Vance walked.
The Lady Lions completed the scoring with three runs in the top of the fifth inning.
Chambliss was efficient in the circle throwing only 62 pitches and shutting out the Lady Rockets after the first inning run. In five innings she gave up the single unearned run on five hits and no walks while striking out two.
Leading hitters for Fairfield: Hooper (0 for 2, walk, hit by pitch, 2 runs), Quickle (1 for 3, walk, 3 runs), Hattan (2 for 3, double, triple, hit by pitch, 1 run, 1 RBI), Sydney Sanders (0 for 3, hit by pitch, 1 run), Miller (1 for 4, 2 run, 1 RBI), Vance (1 for 2, walk, 1 run).
Waddle (3-1) suffered the loss for Fayetteville. In 3.3 innings, she gave up nine runs (five earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out six. Thompson pitched 1.6 innings allowed four runs (one earned) on one hit and three walks while striking out two.
Fairfield improved to 2-1 in the SHAC and 5-3 overall.
Fayetteville slipped to 2-1 in the SHAC and 3-1 overall.
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On Wednesday the Lady Lions won big again, dumping North Adams 15-1 in a SHAC contest played in Seaman.
Chambliss and Quickle combined for the win, scattering four hits and allowing just a single run, while the Fairfield offense stroked five extra base hits. Chambliss had double and a triple, Sydney Sanders had a double, Hattan had a triple and Kelsey Clark also tripled.
Fairfield scored nine runs in the top of the first inning, taking advantage of several untimely walks by the North Adams pitcher. Hattan had a single and a sacrifice fly and Sydney Sanders had a bases loaded double that cleared to the bases. Miller singled in the inning.
Fairfield added four more unearned runs in the top of the third inning. Hattan singled, Vance singled and Chambliss tripled.
North Adams loaded the bases and scored a run in the bottom of the third inning, but Chambliss got out of the jam with a ground out to Quickle at third base.
Fairfield completed the scoring in the top of the fourth inning scoring two runs on a single by Hooper, a triple off the bat of Hattan, and a single by Sydney Sanders.
Quickle took over pitching duties from Chambliss, shutting out the Lady Devils in the fourth and fifth innings.
Leading hitters for the Fairfield Lady Lions: Hooper (1 for 2, 2 walks, 3 runs), Quickle (0 for 2, 2 walks, 2 runs), Hattan (3 for 3, double, triple, 3 runs, 2 RBIs), Sydney Sanders (2 for 3, double, hit by pitch, 4 RBIs), Miller (1 for 2, walk, hit by pitch, 1 run, 1 RBI), Vance (1 for 3, walk, 2 runs, 1 RBI), Chambliss (2 for 2, double, triple, walk, 2 run, 1 RBI), Sanders (1 for 2, walk, 1 run, 1 RBI), Jaylie Duncan (0 for 0, walk, hit by pitch, 1 run, 1 RBI), and Clark (1 for 1, triple).
Chambliss (6-3) was the winning pitcher for Fairfield. In three innings she allowed one earned on four hits and one walks while striking out five.
Quickle pitched the final two innings and did not give up a hit or walk while striking out three.
Karia Tumbleson (3-2) suffered the loss for North Adams. In five innings she allowed 15 runs (11 earned) on 11 hits and nine walks while striking out three.
North Adams fell to 2-2 in the SHAC and 3-2 overall, while Fairfield improved to 3-1 in the SHAC and 6-3 overall.
Submitted by Thomas E. Purtell, Fairfield softball.
