'Justice for All'

On a picture-perfect Saturday afternoon, the Fairfield Lady Lions won both sides of a doubleheader against visiting Wilmington, as it was Justice Hattan who won game one with a walk-off home run.

The two losses the Lady Lions handed the Lady Hurricane were their first two losses of the season.

Now for the walk-off.

Heather Sanderson had just tied the score at 2-2, as she had a two-out triple to score Shaylee Carson.

As Sanderson stood on third, it was Hattan blasting the first pitch she saw of the at-bat over the centerfield fence, giving the Lady Lions a dramatic walk-off victory by a 4-2 score.

The game had 10 combined hits, with FHS having six of them, five in the seventh inning.

Even with the walk-off home run, the game can still be described as a pitchers' duel between Fairfield's Arica Melson and Wilmington's Savannah Hooper.

Melson shut out the Lady 'Cane through the first five innings, limiting them to just two hits behind the defense of FHS.

Hooper shut out the Lady Lions on just one hit through the first three innings.

FHS took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Kaitlin Evans led off the inning with a ground ball to the right side of the infield and was safe on an error, ending up on second base. Shelby Smithson singled to left-centerfield to score Evans.

WHS rallied in the top of the sixth inning to take a 2-1 lead.

Hooper retired the Lady Lions in order in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Melson kept the score at a one-run deficit, holding the Lady 'Cane scoreless in the top of the seventh inning.

Then came the seventh inning.

The inning started well for FHS, with Cynnamon Sova-Davy singling to the left side of the infield. Halie Chain followed with an infield single, advancing Sova-Davy to second base.

Carson laid down a slap bunt to WHS third baseman Jordan Cordell, who turned a double play. Carson stood at first base, and with FHS down to their final out, Sanderson hit the aforementioned triple to the fence in right field, tying the score 2-2.

Hattan then hit the walk-off home run.

Melson (6-0) was the winning pitcher for Fairfield. Her scoreless innings pitched streak ended at 25.

Mikayla Coleman, took the mound in Game 2 and she picked up where Melson had left off, blanking the Lady 'Cane in the first two innings.

The Lady Lions would took an early 5-0 lead with five runs in the bottom of the second inning. Carly Arnold, Hattan and Kourtnie Smith drew walks in the inning. Sova-Davy, Grace Larrick and Evans had singles.

The Lady 'Cane would close the gap to 5-4 with four runs in the top of the third inning, and FHS answered with a run in the bottom of the third inning.

Sova-Davy doubled to lead off the inning, and Chain singled to advance Sova-Davy to third base. Arnold batted in Sova-Davy on a ground out to the right side of the infield.

The Lady 'Cane answered with a run in the top of the fourth inning to make the score 6-5.

The Lady Lions rallied to score three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the score 9-5.

Smith doubled to the fence in left-centerfield to lead off the inning. Larrick drew a walk, and Smith and Larrick pulled off a double steal of third base and second base.

Smith scored on a fly ball to the shortstop by Evans, and Sova-Davy singled to drive in Larrick.

Taylor Avedisian entered the game to run for Sova-Davy. Chain singled to centerfield, and when the ball went through the outfielder, Avedisian raced all the way home.

The Lady Lions scored three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Hattan ripped a line drive single to left field. Smith was safe on an error, advancing Hattan to second base. Larrick drew a walk, and Evans was safe at first base on a fielder’s choice to score Hattan. Smithson singled to centerfield to drive in Smith and Larrick.

WHS scored two more runs in the top of the seventh inning to make the score 12-7.

Coleman (2-0-1) was the winning pitcher for Fairfield.