West Liberty-Salem struggled to contain Fairbanks’ offense, falling 13-5 in Ohio Heritage Conference softball action Monday.
The Lady Tigers are now 1-2 on the season.
West Liberty-Salem grabbed an early 3-0 lead, but Fairbanks scored twice in the second and got another pair in the third.
They added two in the fifth, five in the sixth, and two in the seventh.
Kennedy Wallace threw a complete game for the Tigers, allowing 14 hits. She had no walks and two strikeouts.
Offensively, Audrey Collins had a double and a two-run homer with four RBIs. Wallace got three hits with one RBI, and Olivia Reichardt doubled.
“Our energy was up today,” said WL-S coach Jenni Blair. “Our defense did better.”
The teams will meet again today, and Blair noted the Tigers have to keep from making mistakes.
Wallace retired Fairbanks in order in the first inning.
Kiersten Stoll got aboard after being hit by a pitch. Reichardt followed with a double well into center, moving Stoll to third.
Wallace dropped one into center, bringing in Stoll.
After a courtesy runner went in for Wallace, Collins sent a double racing along the line in left to make it 3-0.
Fairbanks pitcher Macy Kise then struck out the next three batters.
Kise led off the second with a double. The next hitter reached after a dropped third strike. A groundout and a single brought two across to cut the gap to one run.
A double and an error allowed Fairbanks to tie the game in the top of the third.
WL-S did throw out Kise trying to steal second, but another hit put the Lady Panthers in front.
The Lady Tigers left two runners aboard in the third, and again in the fourth.
Three hits by Fairbanks, plus an error by the Tigers, in the fifth saw the margin expand to 6-3.
Fairbanks kept rolling in the sixth, as they batted through the lineup, scoring five runs with two bunts and five other hits.
Jenna Dee of Fairbanks hit a two-run homer in the seventh to complete her side’s scoring.
In the bottom of the seventh, Reichardt hit the ball well, but it was caught by the centerfielder for an out.
Wallace singled to center and the Tigers sent in a courtesy runner.
Collins then belted a pitch over the fence in left field.
Kaylee Blair reached on an error, but a groundout and strikeout ended the contest.