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FAIRFIELD — Fairfield pitcher Jaisa Fox threw a one-hit shutout against Hamilton last week, but she wasn't able to duplicate that feat in the rematch.

This time Fox settled for a two-hit shutout as the Indians blanked Big Blue 3-0 Wednesday, April 30, at Fairfield.

"It seems like she has our number,' HHS coach Steve Heckman said. "She was really on today. Of course, she's on most of the time. She's a good pitcher."

Fox struck out eight and helped her cause at the plate as well, doubling home Megan Lockhart in the first inning for the only run Fairfield would need.

With the win, the Indians (18-3 overall, 12-3 Greater Miami Conference) moved into a second-place tie with Hamilton (16-5, 12-3 GMC) and all but eliminated Big Blue from the league title race. Both FHS and HHS trail Colerain by three games with three to go.

"I like pitching against Hamilton," Fox said. "They have really good hitters and they make me work to get them out."

Fox (15-3) didn't allow a baserunner until the fifth inning when she booted a wicked-spinning Haleigh Daniels nubber back to the mound.

Hamilton didn't get its first hit until Rachel Cox doubled to left center with two outs in the sixth to put runners on second and third. But Fox got out of the jam by fanning Katie Fuller.

"I actually get nervous sometimes when (Fuller) comes to the plate," Fox said. "I know I have to go up and down with her because she can hit it wherever I put it. I was glad to get out of that inning."

Fairfield took a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Whitney Kelly tripled off HHS starter and losing pitcher Ashley Boyd (14-4) and later scored on Erin Coyle's sacrifice fly.

Megan Lockhart gave Fox some extra breathing room in the fifth with a solo home run to straight-away center field.

The Indians could have done some more damage had it not been for two outstanding defensive plays by Cox at short and Fuller at second base.

"Those were fantastic plays," Heckman said of Cox's diving catch in the fourth to rob Gretchen Angel of a hit up the middle and Fuller's stab of a Fox grounder that looked like it would get through for a single.

Despite the win, Fairfield likely will fall short of winning its first GMC title since 2001. But coach Brenda Stieger said second place still could be beneficial.

"I think it's huge as far as the tournament draw," she said. "Obviously we'd rather be in first place, but I think the Cincinnati area really respects the GMC. I would expect we'll get one of the top three seeds (at Sunday's sectional draw)."

First up, however, are tough games for both teams. The Indians will play host to Lakota East today, while Big Blue be at home against Colerain on Friday.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2193

or jmorrison@coxohio.com.

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