Lady Lions blank Green Devils, 9-0

The Fairfield Lady Lions shutout a second Southern Hills Athletic Conference opponent in as many days, this time defeating the North Adams Lady Devils, 9-0.

In those two consecutive shutout wins, the Lady Lions outscored their opponents, 21-0 as they defeated Lynchburg-Clay, 12-0 on Wednesday.

FHS pitchers Arica Melson and Mikayla Coleman combined to throw a one-hit shutout.

The Lady Lions (3-0, 5-0) faced one of the best young pitchers in the league in North Adams (1-1, 1-2) sophomore Jade Spriggs.

Spriggs kept the Lady Lion hitters off-balance in the early innings, striking out nine batters in the first four innings, but the Lady Lions used their short game to put pressure on the Lady Devils defense.

FHS erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, adding to their lead and never looking back.

Starting pitcher Arica Melson retired the Lady Devils in order in the top of the first inning on just six pitches, and the Lady Lions offense wasted no time getting on the board with two runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Grace Larrick led off the inning with a slap bunt single to the left side of the infield, then stole second base. Kaitlin Evans doubled to left-centerfield, scoring Larrick, and took third on a throwing error. One out later, Cynnamon Sova-Davy laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Evans.

Evans finished the game 4-for-4 with three runs, a double and one RBI. Larrick went 2-for-4 with two runs.

FHS put runners in scoring position in the second and third innings but failed to score.

The Lady Lions finally got things going in the bottom of the fifth inning with their short game.

With one out, Larrick and Evans had back-to-back slap bunt singles. Shelby Smithson was safe on an error, allowing a run to score, and Sova-Davy laid down another sacrifice bunt and was safe on an error to score a run.

Halie Chain, Shaylee Carson and Heather Sanderson (2-for-3) had three consecutive RBI singles. Justice Hattan laid down a sacrifice bunt to score the final run of the inning and was safe on an error.

FHS completed the scoring with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Evans laid down a one-out bunt single to the left side of the infield. She stole second base, and when the throw went wild into centerfield, the junior raced all the way home, sliding just ahead of the throw.

Melson (4-0) was dominating on the mound for the second consecutive day, holding the Lady Devils to a harmless infield hit through six innings. Melson allowed two walks, one hit and no runs, while striking out nine.

Coleman, a senior, pitched in the top of the seventh inning. Coleman finished out the game in style, giving up no runs on no hits while striking out two batters. Coleman struck out two, allowing no runs and no hits in her inning pitched.

FHS travels to Mowrystown Friday to take on the Whiteoak Lady Wildcats in a SHAC game at 5:30 p.m.

The Lady Lions Tournament on Saturday is now a doubleheader with the Wilmington Lady 'Canes, as both Waverly and East Clinton withdrew. The first game will start at 1 p.m.