Early inning runs doom Lady Hounds in twin bill

BY PCC STAFF

FAIRFIELD - A four-run third inning in the opener and three-run first inning in the night cap led to a sweep on the road for the Fort Madison girls softball team Monday night.

A one-out rally in the top of the third inning off starter Cassie Powers plated four runs as Fairfield ran away with the opener 7-1. Freshman Katie Dennis spotted the Lady Demons three runs in the bottom of the first of the night cap enroute to a 4-0 shutout.

With one out in the bottom of the third inning in the opener, Fairfield's Shalyn Drish reached on an error and then Fairfield put together back-to-back doubles from Allison Rebling and Coty Engle for the game's first two RBI. Then freshman Hannah Simpson lived up to her role as clean-up hitter sending a ball out of the yard for the next two RBI.

Olivia Williams scored the only run for the Hounds on the night when she reached on a single in the top of the fourth. She stole second and then advanced to third on an Ivy Geerdes groundout to second. Williams would come around to score on a wild pitch.

But Rebling would get Fort Madison's Maycee Featheringill on strikes to end the inning.

Fairfield would put up two more up in the bottom of the fifth and Simpson would add her second home run of the night in the bottom of the sixth. The Bloodhound's Vanessa Golowach would double in the top of the seventh to left field for Fort Madison's only other hit of the game.

Powers took the loss for Fort Madison giving up seven hits and seven runs, six earned while striking out six and walking three. Rebling struck out 15 Lady Hounds in getting the win. Allyson Helmick, Williams and Golowach had the only hits for Fort Madison.

In the nightcap. the Demons threw up three in the top of the first playing some small ball. Drish opened the game with single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Coty Engle would move her to third on an infield single, and then Drish would score on a sacrifice.

Engle would come around to score on a ground out to short and Simpson would score the third run on a throwing error, after reaching on an error. Dennis would get Jenna Norris to fly out to Jassmine Bass in right to end the threat.

Fairfield's Danielle Breen would open the bottom of the second with a single and would swipe second before moving to third on a Drish one-bagger. Breen would score on another Fort Madison error to put the Demons up 4-0, a score that would hold up.

The Lady Hounds had five hits in the second game led by Williams who had a single and double, but never could put any offense together being relegated to just one base runner in five different innings.

Dennis went the distance in the circle for Fort Madison giving up seven hits and four runs, none earned, while striking out one and not allowing a walk.

The Lady Hounds fall to 8-14 on the year and have lost their last eight games.