Softball: Scaramuzzi, Oswego handcuff Geneva

Kaitlyn Plocinski broke up Oswego starter Annie Scaramuzzi's no-hitter in the seventh inning Wednesday in Geneva.

Moments later Molly Wrenn spoiled her shutout.

But Geneva couldn't deny Scaramuzzi the win, as those were the only 2 hits she allowed in Oswego's 4-1 win.

"She does a nice job and gets enough movement to make it work," Geneva coach Greg Dierks said. "I think sometimes it's a tough assignment for the lefties because she gets some nice movement going away from them. They have to be disciplined to use the whole field. She was getting ahead of the count on us and we were a little at her mercy there."

Scaramuzzi handcuffed Geneva all day. She struck out 14 and only walked one.

The lefty threw 16 first-pitch strikes. She was two hitters away from a no-hitter until Plocinski laced a double just inside the right-field line. One out later, Wrenn singled in Geneva's only run.

"She was doing her thing, hitting her spots, making adjustments," Oswego coach Amanda Stanton said. "She did an awesome job."

Oswego (3-1) took a 2-0 lead in the third. Leadoff hitter Kayla Moky started the rally with a single.

Moky stole second and third and scored on a groundout. Rebecca Pieroni tripled to right field and came in when Geneva starter Ali Dierks walked the next three hitters.

Oswego added a run in the fourth and another in the fifth.

"We attacked," Stanton said. "Today we jumped on them. We were more fluid hitting as a team today (than an 8-0 loss to West Aurora on Monday)."

Pieroni also had quite a day behind the plate, throwing out would-be base stealers in the first and third innings.

"Becky has an awesome arm and she's smart about it," Stanton said. "She's got a gun."

Ali Dierks finished with 10 strikeouts.

Geneva returns to action Saturday at Burlington Central.