Lady Lions rally twice for victory
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
The Fairfield Lady Lions found themselves in another Southern Hills Athletic Conference battle Thursday afternoon with the Manchester Lady Greyhounds as the Lady Lions showed great resiliency, coming from behind on two occasions to defeat the Lady Greyhounds, 8-6.
FHS pitcher Arica Melson picked up her ninth win of the season as the Lady Lions made some great plays on defense, but the star of the game was the Lady Lions' offense, pounding out 11 hits to score eight runs.
Shelby Smithson led the offense with two home runs for four RBIs. She finished 2-for-4 at the plate.
The game did not start well for the Lady Lions (9-5, 6-1 SHAC), as the Manchester (2-7, 1-6 SHAC) lead off hitter reached base on an error in the top of the first inning. The next Greyhound hitter singled, but the Lady Lions' outfield misplayed the ball into a triple. A ground out scored the second runner, and Manchester had a 2-0 lead before the Lady Lions had a chance to bat.
FHS answered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, beginning with a one-out walk by Grace Larrick who went 3-for-3, two runs and one RBI. Smithson tied the score 2-2 with one swing of the bat, blasting a home run just to the left of the scoreboard in right-centerfield.
The Lady Lions took a 3-2 lead with a run in the bottom of the second inning, as Justice Hattan (2-for-3, two doubles, one run, two RBIs) doubled (with one out) to left field, advancing to third base on an error. Sirenity Smith hit a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield to score Hattan.
Manchester bounced back to take a 5-3 lead with a three-run third inning.
Again, the Lady Lions rallied for a lead of 8-5 with five runs in the bottom of the third inning.
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Kaitlin Evans led off the FHS third with a single to left field, advancing to second base on an error. Larrick laid down a bunt single to score Evans. Larrick stole second base and advanced to third base when the throw went into centerfield.
Smithson, who got the green light to swing on a 3-0 pitch, hit her second home run of the game, giving FHS a 6-5 advantage.
One out later, Heather Sanderson singled to right centerfield. Cynnamon Sova-Davy was safe on a bunt single as Sanderson raced to third base. Sova-Davy stole second base, and Hattan doubled to left field to score Sanderson and Sova-Davy.
Melson and the Lady Lions’ defense shutout the Lady Greyhounds in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Melson limited the MHS hitters to just one hit during the three innings while striking out five.
FHS put runners on in the fourth and sixth innings but failed to score.
MHS rallied in the top of the seventh inning, loading the bases. Rainelle Casey drove in one run, but the FHS defense and pitching didn't allow any more runs to round the bases, as Melson forced a ground out to end the threat and the game.
Shaylee Carson also tallied a hit for the Lady Lions.
Melson (9-2) was the winning pitcher for FHS. She went seven innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and five walks. She struck out 10 batters.
The victory sets up a show own of the top two teams in Division II of the SHAC with the Fairfield Lady Lions and the Fayetteville Lady Rockets playing Friday at Fairfield. Both teams enter the game with only one league loss. Game time is slated for 5 p.m.
FHS pitcher Arica Melson picked up her ninth win of the season as the Lady Lions made some great plays on defense, but the star of the game was the Lady Lions' offense, pounding out 11 hits to score eight runs.
Shelby Smithson led the offense with two home runs for four RBIs. She finished 2-for-4 at the plate.
The game did not start well for the Lady Lions (9-5, 6-1 SHAC), as the Manchester (2-7, 1-6 SHAC) lead off hitter reached base on an error in the top of the first inning. The next Greyhound hitter singled, but the Lady Lions' outfield misplayed the ball into a triple. A ground out scored the second runner, and Manchester had a 2-0 lead before the Lady Lions had a chance to bat.
FHS answered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, beginning with a one-out walk by Grace Larrick who went 3-for-3, two runs and one RBI. Smithson tied the score 2-2 with one swing of the bat, blasting a home run just to the left of the scoreboard in right-centerfield.
The Lady Lions took a 3-2 lead with a run in the bottom of the second inning, as Justice Hattan (2-for-3, two doubles, one run, two RBIs) doubled (with one out) to left field, advancing to third base on an error. Sirenity Smith hit a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield to score Hattan.
Manchester bounced back to take a 5-3 lead with a three-run third inning.
Again, the Lady Lions rallied for a lead of 8-5 with five runs in the bottom of the third inning.
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Kaitlin Evans led off the FHS third with a single to left field, advancing to second base on an error. Larrick laid down a bunt single to score Evans. Larrick stole second base and advanced to third base when the throw went into centerfield.
Smithson, who got the green light to swing on a 3-0 pitch, hit her second home run of the game, giving FHS a 6-5 advantage.
One out later, Heather Sanderson singled to right centerfield. Cynnamon Sova-Davy was safe on a bunt single as Sanderson raced to third base. Sova-Davy stole second base, and Hattan doubled to left field to score Sanderson and Sova-Davy.
Melson and the Lady Lions’ defense shutout the Lady Greyhounds in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Melson limited the MHS hitters to just one hit during the three innings while striking out five.
FHS put runners on in the fourth and sixth innings but failed to score.
MHS rallied in the top of the seventh inning, loading the bases. Rainelle Casey drove in one run, but the FHS defense and pitching didn't allow any more runs to round the bases, as Melson forced a ground out to end the threat and the game.
Shaylee Carson also tallied a hit for the Lady Lions.
Melson (9-2) was the winning pitcher for FHS. She went seven innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and five walks. She struck out 10 batters.
The victory sets up a show own of the top two teams in Division II of the SHAC with the Fairfield Lady Lions and the Fayetteville Lady Rockets playing Friday at Fairfield. Both teams enter the game with only one league loss. Game time is slated for 5 p.m.