Softball: Burlington Central's bats go cold

Burlington Central's bid for Big Northern East revenge ran into a buzzsaw named Mariah Dionne Thursday at Rocket Hill.

Hoping to avenge its only conference loss against Marengo, the Rockets instead fell victim to Dionne.

The Marengo ace tossed a 3-hit shutout, striking out 10 and waking only 1 in a 3-0 win.

Emily Kisch, who took the loss despite only allowing 1 earned run, singled twice for the Rockets' only hits of the game until Kristina Ahlers lined a 2-out double in the sixth.

Kisch only allowed 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out eight.

"She did her part," Rockets coach Erica Maisto said.

Marengo (18-5, 11-0) got all the runs it needed in the second. After a leadoff walk, Susie Nawrot doubled to put runners at second and third with no outs.

Kisch nearly pitched out of it, getting a fielder's choice out at the plate and a strikeout before a 2-out infield error allowed 2 runs to score.

"Errors kill you," Maisto said. "But it is kind of a moot point if we can't even get a run in."

Marengo also scored a run in the fourth on a hit batter, wild pitch and 2-out single from Leah Secor.

That was more than enough for Dionne, a junior committed to NAIA Southeasten, Fl., who improved to 15-4.

"She was throwing really well," Marengo coach Dwain Nance said. "I thought Kisch threw just as well. They have an error, that game could easily have been 1-0. She had her ball moving, had us fooled.

"I thought our kids played really well behind her. It was a good win for us out here."

Of the 10 strikeouts by the Rockets (16-5, 9-2), six came looking. That's something they will try to learn from.

"We were looking at too many strikes. I think we needed to attack more," Maisto said. "I'm more concerned about postseason. Every game is preparing us for postseason. We have all the pieces, we just need to put it together."