Jacobs outlasts CL South in 8
Jacobs left fielder Jackie Hengler says she likes to hit the first pitch when she can.
She did on Monday.
Hengler’s first-pitch single to right field with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning scored courtesy runner Tori Berg with the game-winning run that lifted the Golden Eagles to a 3-2 Fox Valley Conference Valley Division win over Crystal Lake South in Algonquin.
“If it’s a first-pitch strike I usually go up there swinging,” said Hengler. “I was just trying to hit it up the middle and get a nice hit.”
It may not have been up the middle but it was hit hard enough to fly over the head of Gators’ right fielder Rachel Leis, who never had a chance to make the catch, bringing to an end a splendid pitchers duel between summer teammates Marissa Lombardo of Jacobs and Hannah Mahoney of CL South.
Hengler’s opportunity was set up by the hustle of teammates Ashley Morales and Kaitlyn Woloszyk on the previous two plays.
Freshman Alyssa Lach singled to lead off the Jacobs eighth and went to second when Lombardo blooped a single into center. On Morales’ ensuing bunt, South (7-2, 0-1) was able to throw out Lach at third but Morales barely beat the relay to avoid the double play. Woloszyk then hit a sharp grounder to short. South got the force at second but Woloszyk legged out her run to first, averting the inning-ending double play and allowing Berg to go to third. Hengler then won the game with her hit.
“Their third baseman made a great play (on Morales’ bunt) but we were able to get the one hit we needed,” said Jacobs coach Jeremy Bauer.
Jacobs (5-5, 1-0) had jumped ahead 1-0 in the first when Kara Arceneaux singled, stole second and scored on Kelsey Peterson’s RBI single to left. The Golden Eagles then extended the lead to 2-0 in the fourth. Marie Ladick beat out a bunt single, Woloszyk dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt and Jenna Teson stroked an RBI single to left to score Ladick.
The Gators came back with 2 runs in the sixth to tie it. Liz Adams doubled, Shannon McGinnis walked, each advanced on a passed ball and Adams scored on Allie Bochat’s sacrifice fly. Mahoney then delivered an RBI double to score McGinnis and tie the game.
Lombardo (2-1) allowed 5 hits and had 4 strikeouts and 3 walks in picking up the win. Mahoney (3-2) gave up 11 hits and had 3 strikeouts and 2 walks. There was only 1 error in the game.
“It was a great ballgame,” said South coach Scott Busam. “Being placed in the same regional with them, we told our girls to take this as homework. We needed to see their strengths and how we can counter them. We played great defense and that’s probably the best game Hannah has thrown this season.
McGinnis added a double and Mahoney had 2 hits for the Gators.
Lach went 3-for-4 and Lombardo had 2 hits for Jacobs, which came into Monday reeling from two losses at the Palatine quad on Saturday.
“We were definitely a little discombobulated Saturday so it was good to bounce back with a good win against a quality team,” said Bauer, whose team hosts Cary-Grove today. “Marissa’s getting into her groove and getting more confident and hopefully our defense will continue to be there.”