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Lady Lions fall by 1 run to Manchester

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The Fairfield Lady Lions returned to Southern Hills Athletic Conference play Monday (April 1), as they hosted the Manchester Lady Greyhounds at the Fairfield Baseball/Softball Complex where FHS lost by a 5-4 score. 

The game featured the 2023 undefeated SHAC Division II champion Manchester and the 2023 SHAC Division I tri-champions, Fairfield, plus the game also featured two of the top pitchers in the conference, those players being Rylie Young of Manchester and Caitlyn Quickle of Fairfield.  

As expected, the game was close up to the last out, but Fairfield committed three errors that led to four unearned runs, then failed to get the timely hit they needed as the Lady Greyhounds (2-0, 1-0 SHAC) defeated the Lady Lions (2-3, 2-1 SHAC).
 
With one out in the top of the first inning, Jenna Campbell and Young had back-to-back singles. Fairfield’s Caitlyn Quickle struck out the next Manchester batter to record the second out of the inning. A wild pitch advanced runners to second and third, where they both scored runs on an infield error by the Fairfield defense.
 
Fairfield tied the score 2-2 with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Rilee Quickle led off the inning with a double to centerfield and advanced to third on a Manchester throwing error. Jobey Hattan followed with a bunt base hit, as Quickle held at third base. 

Hattan then stole second base, and Caitlyn Quickle hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Rilee Quickle. Hattan also tagged up and advanced to third base and scored on the wild throw to third.
 
Both pitchers blanked their opponents in the second inning. 
 
Manchester took a 5-2 lead in the top of the third inning scoring three runs on three hits and a Fairfield error. 

With one out in the bottom of the third inning, Hattan hit a home run over the right centerfield fence.  

Caitlyn Quickle followed with a base hit to centerfield. Whitlee Morrow entered the game as a courtesy runner for Quickle, and Morrow stole second base, advanced to third on a throwing error on the stolen base and scored on a throwing error at third base.

With two outs, Carly Sanders tripled to the fence in right field, but Fairfield failed to get a hit to score Sanders.
 
Fairfield had another scoring opportunity in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Hattan drew a walk and stole second and third bases, but the Lady Lions didn’t to get the timely hit they needed.
 
Both pitchers were lights out after the third inning, blanking their opponents.  

Fairfield came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning needing a run to tie. Addison Bales was safe on an error to lead off the inning. Sydney Hooper hit a line drive in the infield that doubled up Bales at first base. Young retired the next Lady Lion hitter to end the game.
 
Leading hitters for the Lady Lions: Hattan (2-for-2, home run, walk, two runs, one RBI, three stolen bases), Sanders (1-for-2, triple), Rilee Quickle (1-for-4, double, one run), Caitlyn Quickle (1-for-2, one run, two RBI) and Addison Bales (1-for-3).   
 
Rylie Young (2-0) was the winning pitcher for Manchester. Young’s pitching line: seven innings, six hits, four runs, three earned runs, one walk and seven strikeouts.  

Caitlyn Quickle (2-2) suffered the loss for Fairfield. Quickle’s pitching line: seven innings, five hits, five runs, one earned run, one walk and 10 strikeouts.  
 
The Lady Lions’ game Tuesday, April 2 at North Adams was postponed. 

BOX SCORE
MHS
    203 000 0 — 5 5 6
FHS    202 000 0 — 4 6 3

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