Lady Dragons get best of rival Lady Panthers in 12-9 win

CHESAPEAKE — This was Fairland vs. Chesapeake and it was a battle.

What else would you expect?

The Fairland Lady Dragons picked up their first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season as they outscored the rival Chesapeake Lady Panthers 12-9 on Thursday.

Fairland (3-18, 1-13) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Maddie Cornwell was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a hit by Aubrey Hayes. After Hayes stole second she came home on a hit by Aubree Cyrus.

Chesapeake (7-12, 1-11) answered with 5 runs in the bottom of the inning.

KJ Collins was hit by a pitch, Felicity Bellomy reached on a missed third strike and Madelyn Frye had an RBI single. Jaeden Anderson had a two-run double, Kadence Eastom doubled in a run and then scored on a hit by Sophie Wagner.

The Lady Dragons came right back and tied the game in the top of the second.

Yardley Gorby singled, stole second, went to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a double by Cornwell. Taegan Leep reached on an error to score Cornwell and Hayes singled home Leep.

But the Lady Panthers answered the challenge with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.

Collins and Bellomy walked, they pulled off a double steal and Collins scored on a ground out by Frye as Bellomy went to third. Anderson then hit a sacrifice fly.

Fairland got within 7-6 in the third when Schneider doubled and Gorby singled.

The Lady Dragons took the lead with 4 runs in the fourth inning.

Raelynn Barker reached on an error, moved up on a passed ball and scored on a double by Cornwell. Leep followed with an RBI double, Hayes walked and Cyrus singled and an error on the play allowed both runners to score and it was 10-7.

Chesapeake got a run in the fifth  when Frye reached on a two-base error and Anderson singled her home.

The Lady Panthers made it 10-9 in the sixth when Addy Ross singled, moved up on a ground out and scored on a single by Bellomy.

Fairland added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh.

Barker was safe on an error leading off, Cornwell and Leep singled for a run and an out later Cyrus singled home Leep.

Short retired the first two batters in the bottom of the seventh. Wagner then doubled but Short got the next batter to fly out and end the game.

Fairland pounded out 17 hit led by Maddie Cornwell who was 3-4 with two doubles and 2 RBI, Taegan Leep was 3-4 with a double and RBI, Cyrus 3-5 with 3 RBI, Gorby 2-4 and an RBI, Schneider 2-5, Hayes 3-4 with an RBI, and Barker 1-4 with an RBI.

Short got the win as she gave up 9 hits, 7 earned runs, with 6 strikeouts and 3 walks.

Anderson was 2-3 with a double and 3 RBI and Wagner 2-3 with a double and 2 RBI to pace the Chesapeake offense. Ross was 1-3, Easthom 1-4 with a double and RBI, Frye 1-4 with 2 RBI and Felicity Bellamy 1-3 with an RBI.

Frye got the loss as she allowed 17 hits, 7 earned runs, with 3 strikeouts and 2 walks.

Fairland 231 400 2 = 12 17 1

Chesapeake 520 011 0 = 9 8 4

Maddie Short and Maddie Schneider. Madelyn Frye and Felicity Bellomy. W-Short (IP-7.0, H-8, R-9, ER-7, K-6, BB-3). L-Fry (IP-7.0, H-17, R-12, ER-7, K-3, BB-2). Hitting–Fairland: Maddie Cornwell 3-4 2-2B 2-RBI, Taegan Leep 3-4 2B RBI, Aubrey Hayes 3-4 RBI, Aubree Cyrus 3-5 3-RBI, Maddie Schneider 2-5, 2-RBI Yardley Gorby 2-4 RBI, Raelynn Barker 1-4 RBI; Chesapeake: Felicity Bellamy 1-3 RBI, Madelyn Frye 1-4 2-RBI, Jaeden Anderson 2-3 2B 3-RBI, Sophie Wagner 2-3 2B 2-RBI, Kaydence Easthom 1-4 2B RBI, Abby Ross 1-3.