Lady Lions blank West Union
Lead Summary

By
The Highland County Press-
WEST UNION — Following their first two losses of the season this past Saturday, the Fairfield Lady Lions bounced back to shut out the West Union Lady Dragons, 9-0, Tuesday in a Southern Hills League game at West Union High School.
FHS handed West Union their first Southern Hills League loss of the season, as Lady Lion senior pitcher Lauren Larrick picked up her first shutout of the '12 season.
After struggling defensively on Saturday (against Westfall and Washington), the Lady Lions played errorless softball against WU, but the Lady Lions' offense was at the forefront of the victory, as they pounded out 12 hits.
FHS was led at the plate by sophomore Cynnamon Sova-Davy, as she finished with four hits on the afternoon.
It was a pitcher’s duel through the first four innings between two undefeated SHL opponents, as the Lady Lions (4-2, 3-0 SHL) threatened to score in the top of the third inning.
Sova-Davy led off the inning with a double over the left fielder’s head but was doubled up on a failed bunt attempt later in the inning.
With two outs, Cheyenne Allen singled to left field but was thrown out at second base trying to stretch it into a double.
Both teams stranded runners on base in the fourth inning as well.
In the top of the fifth, the Lady Lions broke the scoreless tie with a five-run inning.
Sophomore left fielder Halie Chain, in the starting lineup for the injured Taylor Butler, blasted a double to the fence in left-centerfield to begin the inning. Sirenity Smith followed with a walk.
One out later, Allen hit a deep sacrifice fly to centerfield and was safe on the play as the WU outfielder failed to secure the catch.
With two outs, Shelby Smithson singled to centerfield, knocking in two runs. Whitney Hanenkrat followed with an RBI single to complete the scoring in the inning.
FHS scored four more runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Smith led off the sixth with a single to right-centerfield. Sova-Davy followed with a single to right field. Kaitlin Evans walked to load the bases, and Allen hit into a force play at second, scoring Smith.
With two outs, Smithson tripled to the fence in right-centerfield, scoring Sova-Davy and Allen. Hanenkrat followed with an infield single, scoring Smithson.
Following a lead-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning, Larrick and the Lady Lion defense shut the door to secure the victory.
Leading hitters for the Lady Lions: Sova-Davy (4-for-4, double, two runs, one RBI), Smithson (1-for-4, triple, two runs, four RBIs), Hanenkrat (2-for-3, two RBIs), Allen (1-for-3, SAC, two runs, one RBI), Larrick (1-for-4, triple), Chain (1-for-3, double, one run) and Smith (1-for-2, two runs).
Larrick (4-2) picked up the win. She pitched seven innings, allowing no runs on seven hits and one walk. The senior pitcher struck out nine.
Erin Ross (3-2) suffered the loss for West Union. Ross went seven innings, allowing nine runs (six earned) on 12 hits and three walks. She struck out six batters.
FHS continues their road trip as the travel to Mowrystown on Thursday to face the Whiteoak Lady Wildcats, in another Southern Hills League contest. Game time is slated for 5 p.m.
BOX SCORE
FHS 000 054 0 — 9 12 0
WU 000 000 0 — 0 7 3[[In-content Ad]]
FHS handed West Union their first Southern Hills League loss of the season, as Lady Lion senior pitcher Lauren Larrick picked up her first shutout of the '12 season.
After struggling defensively on Saturday (against Westfall and Washington), the Lady Lions played errorless softball against WU, but the Lady Lions' offense was at the forefront of the victory, as they pounded out 12 hits.
FHS was led at the plate by sophomore Cynnamon Sova-Davy, as she finished with four hits on the afternoon.
It was a pitcher’s duel through the first four innings between two undefeated SHL opponents, as the Lady Lions (4-2, 3-0 SHL) threatened to score in the top of the third inning.
Sova-Davy led off the inning with a double over the left fielder’s head but was doubled up on a failed bunt attempt later in the inning.
With two outs, Cheyenne Allen singled to left field but was thrown out at second base trying to stretch it into a double.
Both teams stranded runners on base in the fourth inning as well.
In the top of the fifth, the Lady Lions broke the scoreless tie with a five-run inning.
Sophomore left fielder Halie Chain, in the starting lineup for the injured Taylor Butler, blasted a double to the fence in left-centerfield to begin the inning. Sirenity Smith followed with a walk.
One out later, Allen hit a deep sacrifice fly to centerfield and was safe on the play as the WU outfielder failed to secure the catch.
With two outs, Shelby Smithson singled to centerfield, knocking in two runs. Whitney Hanenkrat followed with an RBI single to complete the scoring in the inning.
FHS scored four more runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Smith led off the sixth with a single to right-centerfield. Sova-Davy followed with a single to right field. Kaitlin Evans walked to load the bases, and Allen hit into a force play at second, scoring Smith.
With two outs, Smithson tripled to the fence in right-centerfield, scoring Sova-Davy and Allen. Hanenkrat followed with an infield single, scoring Smithson.
Following a lead-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning, Larrick and the Lady Lion defense shut the door to secure the victory.
Leading hitters for the Lady Lions: Sova-Davy (4-for-4, double, two runs, one RBI), Smithson (1-for-4, triple, two runs, four RBIs), Hanenkrat (2-for-3, two RBIs), Allen (1-for-3, SAC, two runs, one RBI), Larrick (1-for-4, triple), Chain (1-for-3, double, one run) and Smith (1-for-2, two runs).
Larrick (4-2) picked up the win. She pitched seven innings, allowing no runs on seven hits and one walk. The senior pitcher struck out nine.
Erin Ross (3-2) suffered the loss for West Union. Ross went seven innings, allowing nine runs (six earned) on 12 hits and three walks. She struck out six batters.
FHS continues their road trip as the travel to Mowrystown on Thursday to face the Whiteoak Lady Wildcats, in another Southern Hills League contest. Game time is slated for 5 p.m.
BOX SCORE
FHS 000 054 0 — 9 12 0
WU 000 000 0 — 0 7 3[[In-content Ad]]