Fairbanks shortstop Julia Cheney (left) comes up with the ball as Marysville’s Abri Schmutz pops up from her slide at second base on Wednesday. The Lady Monarchs won, 16-3. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
There were no surprises awaiting Fairbanks High School softball coach Amy Sines Wednesday afternoon.
“We knew Marysville had great hitters and pitching,” she said after a 16-3 loss to the Lady Monarchs. “They hit both Julia (starting pitcher Cheney) and Sarah (reliever Writesel) pretty well.”
Marysville rapped the Panther pitchers for a total of 18 hits to win its third game in as many outings this season.
The contest only went 4 ½ innings due to the run rule.
MHS hurler Abby Christian scattered two of Fairbanks’ four hits to pick up the victory.
Marysville (which will travel to Upper Arlington for a noon game on Saturday) erupted for nine runs off Cheney in the home half of the second inning.
The Lady Monarchs clubbed nine of their hits and notched RBIs from Hannah Pack, Ashley Dunn, Haley Winans, Abri Schmutz, Christian, Jalynn Young, Lexi Williams, Abby Gindlesberger and Tareyn Born.
Christian kept the Lady Panthers (2-1) off the scoreboard during the first four innings.
The only threat Fairbanks made during that time came in the top of the fourth.
After a first-out strikeout, Christian issued free passes to Danielle Hoover and Cheney.
A base hit by Lindsey Smith loaded the bases.
Christian powered her way out of the jam with a pair of punchouts.
The Lady Monarchs added to their already-wide gap during the bottom of the third and fourth.
MHS earned RBIs from Christian, Young, Williams, Winans and Born in the third.
The Lady Monarchs also took advantage of a handful of FHS fielding miscues in upping their margin to 14-0.
Marysville then padded its lead to 16-0 with a pair of scores in the fourth.
MHS’ final seven runs came against Writesel.
Fairbanks tallied all three of its runs in the top of the fifth.
Born came in to pitch for MHS in the frame, but soon ran into some shoulder problems.
She allowed two hits and a pair of runs in one-third of an inning.
Gracie Pyers drove in Fairbanks’ first run with a double.
Hoover later followed suit when her two-bagger brought in the Lady Panthers’ second score.
At that point, Christian re-entered the pitching circle.
FHS notched its third run (which was unearned) to finish out the scoring.
A runner scored when a dropped third strike and an errant throw resulted in an MHS error.
Christian coaxed a grounder to end the game.
Lady Monarch coach Jennifer Segner-Maxwell was pleased with her team’s work at the plate.
“We hit the ball pretty well last Saturday against New Albany,” she said. “We continued that today.
“Our defense was strong and we were able to get some younger players into the lineup later in the game.”
FHS 000 00-3 4 3
MHS 095 2x-16 18 1
WP-Christian
LP-Cheney