Austin sparks Fremd past Elk Grove

Fremd played error-free defense and used a big hitting effort from Tom Austin to edge Elk Grove 6-5 in Mid-Suburban League baseball Friday.

Austin homered, doubled and drove in 3 runs; Ethan Hajdukovic doubled twice and Joe Uhrich drove in 2 runs for the Vikings (11-10, 5-4), who trailed early but took the lead for good with a 3-run fifth inning.

Elk Grove (14-5, 7-2) produced 15 hits, getting multiple-hit efforts from Christian Camacho (3), Matt Wary (2), Chuck Fleming (2), Jack McEnroe and Taylor O'Connor.

Winning pitcher Jared Swenson pitched 5⅓ innings and Ian Bohn worked 1⅔ to get another save.

Elk Grove left eight runners on base and slipped into a tie for first in the MSL East with Prospect.

Prospect 9, Palatine 5: The host Pirates were able to tie it at 5-5 with a 2-run effort in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Prospect answered with 4 in the top of the seventh to claim victory, moving into a tie for first place in the MSL East as a result.

Mike Piotrowski (2-for-4) and Lucas Karz (1-for-2, walk) both drove in 2 runs for the Knights (17-5, 7-2), and Patrick Donohue and Ryan Molini both had 2 hits.

Prospect starter Justin Placko allowed 3 earned runs in 6 innings before Karz pitched a scoreless seventh.

Danny Schneberger hit a 2-run homer for Palatine (8-14, 3-6), and Matthew Lamm finished 2-for-3 with a double.

Rolling Meadows 2, Schaumburg 1 (8 inn.): Brett Gibson was reward for the 8 innings he pitched as host Rolling Meadows edged the Saxons.

Gibson struck out 11 and allowed 4 hits among his 122 pitches as both teams played without an error.

At the plate, Gibson went 2-for-3 with a triple and walk, while teamate Sean O'Brien had 2 hits, one of the a double, and drove in a run for the Mustangs (4-17, 2-7).

Schaumburg slipped to 12-9 overall and 4-5 in the MSL.

Buffalo Grove 7, Conant 6: John Lundgren doubled twice and finished 3-for-4 with 3 RBI to help power the visiting Bison in MSL play.

Dan Levato doubled and had 2 hits for BG (9-13, 4-5), while Mike Kleczynski also had 2 hits and Joey Pinakidis scored twice.

The Bison led 7-0 after the top of the fifth and managed to stay ahead as Conant scored 3, 2 and 1 in its final three at-bats.

Anthony Forte was a force for Conant (12-9, 4-5), finishing 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, 2 walks and 3 RBI.

Hoffman Estates 15, Hersey 0 (5 inn.): The host Hawks hit early and often, scoring 7 runs in the first inning on the way to an MSL victory. Devin Willis and Christopher Conway led the way with a pair of doubles, and Matt Roesch went 4-for-4 with 2 RBI.

Doug Rathje and Ryan Ward both had 2 hits, and Willis finished 3-for-3 with 3 RBI for Hoffman Estates (10-8, 3-6).

Ward stuck out 4 and walked none in earning a shutout victory.

Brett Harris and Paul Tokar had 2 hits, including a double apiece, for Hersey (6-11-1, 5-4).

Barrington 8, Wheeling 0: The host Broncos powered past the Wildcats as Jake Coon, Mitch Pfeiffer and Patrick Dehnert had home runs.

Winning pitcher Jake Zyzda allowed 3 hits in 5 innings, and Owen Reith pitched 2 scoreless innings for the MSL West-leading Broncos (17-6, 9-0).

Brenden Spillane had 2 of the 4 hits for Wheeling (6-14, 1-8).

Christian Liberty 9, Schaumburg Christian 4: Chris Hoffmann, Peter Grob and Jake Ringstrand doubled in a 10-hit attack to help the Chargers pick up a nonconference win for starter Tom Keplar.