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Cary-Grove breaks free of Jacobs

Lauren Stanley was something of an escape artist Tuesday.

The Cary-Grove senior pitcher got out of a couple of major jams allowing just 1 run as the Trojans downed Jacobs, 4-1, in Cary.

Amanda DeGroote's 2-out single in the fifth drove in 2 runs to give Stanley some breathing room in the FVC Valley Division softball contest. It was a 1-0 game until the Trojans broke it open with 3 runs in the fifth, capped by DeGroote's hit.

"She did a great job because of what kind of lineup they have," said Cary-Grove assistant coach Mark Olson. "Our defense played outstanding as well. It was a whole team effort. (Catcher Grace) Pilz called a great game behind the plate and Lauren executed her pitches. She got in a couple of jams and then our defense came up big."

The Golden Eagles (12-9, 2-5) loaded the bases in the third inning but couldn't push a run across. With one out, Emily Borg lined to Sarah Purpura in short right. The ball was hit so hard that the runner on third wasn't able to tag up.

Jacobs threatened again in the sixth, with 2 walks and a sacrifice bunt putting 2 runners in scoring position. Teaghan Richman's single up the middle scored 1 run, but Stanley got a strikeout and a popout to escape without further damage.

"We had a few situations," said Jacobs coach Jeremy Bauer. "I thought we hit the ball hard. One of those situations was we hit the ball so hard on a line that we couldn't tag up and score on it. But I thought they made good defensive plays."

The Trojans (12-8, 5-2) took an early lead when Rachel Langner's bases-loaded grounder scored Lisa Semro in the second inning.

It looked like that score might hold up until the Trojans struck again in the fifth. Brianne Prank grounded a single through the hole, Pilz reached on an error when the center fielder dropped her high fly, and Semro lined a single to right, scoring Prank. One out later, DeGroote grounded another one through the hole, scoring Semro and courtesy runner Sarah Kendeigh.

Stanley allowed just 3 hits while striking out 5. DeGroote and Semro each finished with 2 hits for the Trojans.

  Cary-Grove's Amanda DeGroote is congratulated on her 2-RBI basehit against Jacobs in the fifth inning by assistant coach Mark Olson Tuesday in Cary. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Jacobs' Alyssa Lach slides safely back to first base as Cary-Grove's Amy Clemment reaches for the throw Tuesday in Cary. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Cary-Grove first baseman Brianne Prank catches a pop up by Jacobs' Danielle O'Toole in the fourth inning Tuesday in Cary. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  The Cary-Grove softball diamond is reflected in the glasses of Jacobs' Danielle O'Toole as she leans on the chain link fence of the dugout Tuesday in Cary. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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