Softball: Batavia takes slugfest over South Elgin

A common theme is occurring throughout the early season for Batavia's softball team.

Score, score and score some more.

After registering double-figure run production in each of their first four victories, the Bulldogs (5-1, 3-0) scored runs in every inning during their 17-13 Upstate Eight Conference crossover triumph over South Elgin (3-8, 1-3) Wednesday afternoon in Batavia.

All nine starters reached base at least once with six players enjoying multihit games as the Bulldogs have now scored 73 runs in their five wins.

"We've got a pretty good offense up and down the lineup," said Batavia coach Lupe Castellanos. "We don't have many home run hitters but we've got a lot of gap power."

With the game tied at 1-1, Batavia took the lead for good with a 3-run second inning thanks in part to a 2-out fielding miscue by the Storm.

Starting pitcher Jaelen Lisberg (2-0) made South Elgin pay with her 2-run single that gave the Bulldogs a 4-1 lead.

"That big error in the second (inning) kind of brought us down," said Storm coach Brad Reynard.

After Olivia Bumbar delivered an RBI single in the third to extend the lead to 5-1, the Bulldogs sent 13 batters to the plate during an 8-run fourth.

The uprising included Lauren Wencewicz's leadoff walk, Toni Galas' bunt single, a hit batsman, Brieann Cruz's run-producing walk, Kaylan Waldron's 2-run double and an RBI double by Ashley McNamara.

"I think once one person gets a base hit, our team just feeds off it and everyone starts hitting," said Bumbar, who finished 2-for-5 with a double and 3 RBI. "We had a lot of fun today."

"We can't walk eight, hit two batters and give them 10 baserunners - and make five errors and expect to win," said Reynard.

Trailing 13-1 after 4 innings and 3 outs away from losing by slaughter rule, South Elgin made things interesting.

In the fifth, the Storm sent 12 batters to the plate during a 6-run rally that featured back-to-back RBI doubles from Amber Derr (3-for-5, 2 RBI) and Mariah Spivey (2-for-3, 2 BB).

South Elgin added a 4-spot in the sixth to trim the deficit to 15-11.

"From my past experiences, I figured we were going to be like a collapsible chair but to their credit they stuck in there and battled and made it a game," said Reynard, whose team finished with 18 hits despite not recording its first one until a 2-out single by Spivey in the fourth.

However, the Bulldogs finished with 16 base hits of their own in support of Lisberg and relievers Waldron and Rachael Lovestrand.

"I don't think it was so much that we relaxed, it was more that they (the Storm) started hitting the ball," said Castellanos. "Rachael did a nice job coming in and getting those final outs for us."