Triad’s Hailey Snider (right) slides into third base before the ball reaches Fairbanks’ Brynne Stanley. The Lady Cardinals won the game of area rivals, 9-5. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Fairbanks’ softball rally fell short during Thursday’s 9-6 loss to neighboring rival Triad.
That was to be expected when Cardinal pitcher Joni Russell went back into the circle to save her own victory.
The game marked Fairbanks’ “Strikeout Cancer” day.
Triad (8-14 overall and 6-8 in the Ohio Heritage Conference) was breezing right along, leading 9-3 as FHS came to bat in the home half of the seventh inning.
Russell, who scattered five hits and struck out nine, had been lifted in favor of reliever Lillian Greene.
The freshman pitcher surrendered three runs, narrowing Triad’s lead to 9-6.
There were also two FHS runners on base as the potential tying run, Julia Cheney, strode to the plate.
At that point, Triad coach Shari Dixon sent Russell back to the circle to not only nail down the win, but also save it.
Russell did just that as she fanned Cheney on three pitches.
“Joni is just a very good pitcher who is tough to hit,” said Panther coach Amy Sines.
“Lillian is just a freshman,” said Dixon.
Russell and Panther starter Sarah Writesel were locked in a scoreless duel for the first three innings.
The only base runner Russell permitted during that time came in the home half of the third when she walked Fairbanks’ Lindsey Smith.
The Cardinals had scoring opportunities during the first three frames.
With one down in the top of the first, Writesel plunked Holly Alvoid with a pitch.
Russell reached on a fielder’s choice as Alvoid was put out.
Frani LeVan then drew a two-out walk.
Writesel wiggled out of the jam by inducing a grounder.
Triad got two runners on board after a pair of outs in the second.
Abby Walls was issued a free pass and Hailey Snider legged out an infield hit.
They were stranded, however, when a ground ball ended the threat.
Alvoid led off Triad’s portion of the third with a double.
She advanced to third on a fielder’s choice, but remained there for two additional outs.
The Lady Cardinals moved the scoreboard with an unearned run in the visitors’ portion of the fourth.
With one down, Kaydence Feasel singled and advanced on a fielder’s choice.
She raced home when the Lady Panthers misplayed the ball off Snider’s bat into a fielding miscue.
Writesel, though, notched the third out on a grounder before Triad could do further damage.
The wheels began to fall off for Fairbanks (8-11 overall and 7-8 in the OHC) when the Lady Cardinals plated seven runs in the fifth.
Alvoid got things started with a base hit and moved to second on LeVan’s one-out single.
Cati LeVan drove in a score with a single and Morgan Alexander walked to load the bases.
Feasel gave Triad a 3-0 lead with a base hit.
The Cardinals took a 5-0 advantage on runs that scored on either a wild pitch or passed ball.
Snider later singled in a pair of runs for a 7-0 Triad margin.
Cheney came in to pitch with one down.
Greene singled and kept running all the way to third on another FHS fielding miscue.
She gave the Lady Cardinals an 8-0 lead on Alvoid’s fielder’s choice.
Cheney coaxed a popup from Russell to end the inning.
The Lady Panthers finally got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the seventh.
Cheney led off with a single and was replaced on the bases by courtesy runner Mackenzie Lester.
Smith struck out, but reached first on a dropped third strike.
Triad put out Brynne Stanley, but FHS’ first run scored on the play.
Russell then notched punchouts against Sierra Pfarr and Anna Higbee.
Fairbanks narrowed its deficit to 8-3 with a pair of runs in the sixth.
With one down, Gracie Pyers singled and swiped second.
She scored on Writesel’s double.
Danielle Hoover singled to put runners on the corners.
Cheney drove in FHS’ third run when she was out on a fielder’s choice.
Hoover later went to third on a wild pitch.
Russell, though, earned her ninth “K” to end the inning.
Triad seemingly put the game out of reach with a run in the top of the seventh.
Walls and Snider both doubled.
The Lady Cardinals went on top 9-3 when Walls scored on an FHS error.
Greene went in to pitch in the bottom of the seventh.
Pfarr singled with one down.
Triad got the second out on a flyball.
An error and RBIs from Hailey Dee and Hoover later pulled FHS to within 9-6.
Cheney came to bat with two runners on base.
Russell raced back out to the circle and saved the day with another K to end the game.
The battle concluded the regular season for the Lady Panthers.
They will open tournament competition at Centerburg on Monday.
Triad is scheduled to play at Springfield Catholic Central today.
Triad 000 170 1-9 12 1
FHS 000 012 3-6 10 3
WP-Russell
LP-Writesel
SV-Russell
Triad pitcher Joni Russell delivers the ball to the plate on Thursday. Russell came back in the game to face one batter and saved the contest in which she was also the winning pitcher. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)