Softball: Glenbard South knocks off Wheaton Academy

It's always good to provide plenty of offense in support of your team's pitcher, but it's even better when you also happen to be the pitcher.

Glenbard South's Ashley Cohen belted a pair of home runs and scored three times while also pitching a complete game in Tuesday's 12-4 win at Wheaton Academy. The Raiders senior also struck out 10 batters while helping the visitors start the spring 4-0.

"Being a pitcher it's really nice to have runs on board. It makes me feel better out on the mound," said Cohen, who was just one of a few Glenbard South players to have big day's at the plate. "It just keeps us going, and it keeps us going knowing that we can back each other up."

Cohen walked and scored in the first before hitting a 2-run homer during a 6-run fourth inning as the Raiders grabbed a 9-1 lead. She later sent her second shot over the fence in left-center in the seventh inning to record her first 2-homer varsity game.

"I wasn't expecting to hit a home run. I was just expecting to put the ball in play and move my teammates around so we could put runners in scoring position," Cohen said. "It happened and it was awesome. It was a bonus. I wasn't thinking about it. I just went up there thinking I have to do my job to move these runners over. I just have to put the ball in play, and if I hit a home run, it's just a bonus."

Cohen was not alone in the hit parade for a Glenbard South team that had 14 hits and also reached base six times on walks.

Leadoff hitter Payton Carli opened the game with a double and she came around on Aly Miller's 2-run single in the first off Warriors starter Andi Pivaronas. Carli went 2-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt and a walk and scored three times, while Miller finished 3-for-5 with 3 RBI.

"Everybody did a great job of just finding their pitch and putting the ball in play. I mean you can't get on base if you don't put it in play, so we were just really focusing on getting it fair and just running it out," said Carli, who also stole a pair of bases. "Knowing with this team that everybody is going to hit and everyone will contribute is very comfortable."

Sophomore Bailee Flanagan reached base five times with three walks and a pair of hits, including a triple in the seventh.

For Wheaton Academy (2-5), shortstop Maddie Eberling stayed hot with the bat, going 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored, and Courtney Kinane was 2-for-2 with a walk and 2 RBI. In the field center fielder Meghan Gagliano made a dazzling catch in right-center to rob Danielle Little of extra bases with two outs and bases loaded in the third inning.

"You can't coach that. That's all instinctual," Warriors coach Sammy Marshall said. "She just got cleared Monday from her knee (rehab) and today was just her second game. She got a great read and I was hoping she was going to lay out. That pumps me up as a coach and it pumped the players up."