Fairfield softball rips Rhode Island

BRISTOL -- It was a long but ultimately rewarding day for the Fairfield Little League softball team.

Fairfield spotted Swanton, Vt., a pair of runs in the first inning before roaring back en route to a 13-2 victory in the first round of pool play of the East Region tournament on Friday night at the Leadership Training Center complex.

The game, scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m., didn't start until nearly 10 because of the earlier inclement weather and ended a few minutes after nidnight.

"We were sitting around all day with the delay and we were nervous. so it was important just to get the win," Fairfield coach Jarry Rasmussen said.

Fairfield starter Brittany Romero hit two batters in the first inning, helping Rhode Island to plate its runs.

"I've never seen her hit two batters before let alone two in a row," Rasmussen said. "It was real important that she held them to two, and we settled down after that."

Maddie Russell relieved Romero in the third inning and earned the victory.

Fairfield jumps right back into the pool, playing Cumberland, R.I., Saturday at 5 p.m. Rhode Island beat Maine 6-4 earlier Friday.

"We've got to get out of the first inning. It seems like we've been living dangerously in the first forever now," Rasmussen said of Fairfield's keys moving forward.

Fairfield went ahead for good in the top half of the fourth. Tied at 2-2, Abbrianna Natoli walked. One out later, Romero doubled to score pinch-runner Amanda Schramm. Mary Rose Finnigan then delivered an RBI single to make it 4-2.

Fairfield added four runs in the fifth. Four walks plated one run before Romero's three-run double made it 8-2.

Fairfield cemented the game with five runs in the sixth. Anna Rasmussen walked and Russell had an infield single, both runners advancing a base on a throwing error. Michaela O'Donnell and Megan Szuchman each contributed RBI singles before Zoe Holdereid was hit by a pitch to drive home another run.

After a pitching change, Finnigan singled to score another run. Rasmussen then walked to force home the game's final run.

FAIRFIELD 011 245 -- 13 9 0

VERMONT 200 000 --2 1 1