Dundee-Crown slugs its way past Jacobs

With the wind howling out toward right field at the Jacobs softball diamond Tuesday, it figured to be a tough day for the pitchers, and it was.

Jacobs and Dundee-Crown combined for 17 runs, 19 hits, and 4 home runs.

Behind 2 home runs from Isabel Rodriguez, the Chargers pulled out a 9-8, 8-inning win in the Fox Valley Conference Valley Valley Division matchup.

The Chargers jumped ahead 7-0 after 3 innings, thanks in large part to a 3-run homer by Rodriguez and a 2-run shot by winning pitcher Sydney Ruggles. Jacobs battled back with 3 runs in the fourth inning and 4 in the fifth.

A drive by Jessica Powell that just cleared the fence in right-center field got the fifth inning rally started, and a 2-run double by Katie Borchert tied it.

D-C (8-3, 2-0) regained the lead in the sixth on Rodriguez's second homer. Jacobs tied it again in the home half on a double by Teaghan Richman and a single by Taylor Belo.

Both teams were held scoreless in the seventh, but the Chargers struck in the eighth. Rodriguez walked with one out and eventually scored on an error. It was her fourth run of the game.

"We hate to get ahead that much then open the door and let them back in," said Chargers' coach Tracy Beatty. "That's something we've been preaching all season long about getting on top and sustaining the lead. We did let them back in, but we battled back in the end."

Megan Emerson and Deanna Origer had 2 hits apiece for the Chargers. Belo, Borchert, Emily Borg and Sarah Murray each had a pair of hits for Jacobs (7-11, 1-2).

"The girls feel good that they can come back," said Jacobs coach Kathryn O'Brien. "We have gotten down against teams, but to know that we can come back with 7 runs is huge. It's our first extra-inning game, so we have that experience, and we're going to have that going forward."