Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs win 9-inning thriller over Fairfield

On Saturday afternoon, the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs defeated the defending Division I Southern Hills Athletic Conference champion Fairfield Lady Lions, 4-3 in nine innings, gaining the upset victory over their Highland County rival.

FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said the game was a flashback to the late 1990s and early 2000s when Fairfield and Lynchburg-Clay competed every year for the top spot in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference. 

Saturday’s game was a classic Southern Hills Athletic Conference game featuring Fairfield’s junior pitcher Katelyn Chambliss and Lynchburg-Clay freshman pitcher Noel Barnhill, as both pitchers battled for nine innings with Chambliss striking out nine batters and Barnhill striking out 12 batters. 

Sophia Michael singled to right field with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs (1-4, 1-2 SHAC) the 4-3 victory over the Lady Lions (4-2, 1-1 SHAC).

Lynchburg-Clay’s Barnhill blanked the Lady Lions in the top of the first inning, striking out three.  The Lady Mustangs scored two unearned in the bottom of the first inning.

With one out, Kami Collins was hit by a pitch and promptly stole second base. Caitlyn Collins laid down a bunt and was safe on an error as Collins scored. Collins stole third base and scored on a ground ball out to the right side of the infield by Autumn Griffith.

Both pitchers were virtually unhittable in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings. Jobey Hattan doubled for Fairfield in the top of the fourth inning, and Barnhill doubled for Lynchburg-Clay in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Fairfield’s bats finally came alive in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Rilee Quickle singled and promptly stole second base. Hattan doubled to deep centerfield to score Quickle. Hattan then stole third base and later scored on an infield single by Emmi Vance.

The game remained 2-2 into the top of the eighth inning. Quickle led off the inning with a single and later stole second base. Sydney Sanders doubled to drive in Quickle and give Fairfield a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, LC’s Madison Baker singled with one out. Miranda Smith laid down a bunt, but Fairfield third baseman Quickle made an outstanding defensive play on the bunt forcing Baker at second base. Brya McClain then doubled to deep right centerfield to score Smith from first base to tie the score 3-3.

Barnhill set down the Fairfield batters in order in the top of the ninth inning. With one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Griffith drew a base on balls. Barnhill and Avery Blankenship had consecutive singles to load the bases. Michael stepped to the  plate and hit a ground ball single to right field to give the Lady Mustangs the 4-3 victory.

Leading hitters for the Fairfield Lady Lions: Rilee Quickle (2-for-3, walk, 2 runs), Jobey Hattan (4-for-2, double, 1 run, 1 RBI), Sydney Sanders (1-for-4, double, 1 RBI), Emmi Vance (1-for-4, 1 RBI), Katelyn Chambliss (1-for-3).

Leading hitters for the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs: Brya McClain (1-for-4, double, 1 RBI), Kami Collins (0-for-3, 1 run), Caitlyn Collins ( 0-for-3, 1 run), Autumn Griffith (0-for-3, 1 run), Noel Barnhill (2-for-4, double), Avery Blankenship (1-for-4), Sophia Michael (2-for-4, 1 run), Madison Baker (1-for-3), Miranda Smith (0-for-1, 1 run). 

Barnill (1-4) was the winning pitcher for Lynchburg-Clay. Her pitching line: nine innings, seven hits, three runs, three earned runs, two walks and 12 strikeouts.

Chambliss (4-2) suffered the loss for Fairfield. Her pitching line: 8.3 innings, seven hits, four runs, two earned runs, one walk and nine strikeouts.