Softball: Big day for Grant's Bengston

Erin Bengston's 13th home run of the softball season wasn't the only reason the Grant junior had reason to celebrate Friday.

After the Bulldogs improved to 16-4 with a 4-2 win over visiting Crystal Lake Central in nonconference action, Bengston verbally committed to Division-I Holy Cross in Massachusetts.

Becca Wold and Sarah Gallivan also homered for Grant. Bengston and Wold both went 2-for-3.

Sydney Goessele went the distance in the circle for Grant, striking out four and walking none, while allowing 7 hits.

Antioch 6, Wauconda 1: Avery Malicki hit a 2-run homer, as the host Sequoits avenged Thursday's walk-off loss to the Bulldogs in Northern Lake County action.

Antioch (15-4, 7-2) stole 9 bases, including a pair each by Megan Lawrence and Piper Foote. Ashley Stephens went 2-for-3, and Annie Wagner was 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI for the Sequoits.

Stephanie Bonaguidi went the distance in the circle, allowing 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out six.

Lakes 16, Grayslake North 2: Camryn Jones homered, doubled and knocked in 2 runs, as the visiting Eagles won the Northern Lake County game in five innings.

Winning pitcher Kayla Foote limited the Knights to 4 hits, including 2 doubles by Grace Brown (2-for-2). Becca Sosa and Lauren Olsen both had singles for Grayslake North (9-13, 3-5).

Lakes exploded for 19 hits. Rachel Becker (3-for-5, 2 doubles) and Foote (3-for-5, double, 4 RBI) led the way with 3 hits each. Jennifer Reed (2-for-4, double, RBI), Kelsey Ulrich (2-for-2, double, 2 RBI) and Georgia Ohren (2-for-3, double, RBI) also had big days at the plate.

Warren 8, Grayslake Central 6: Kelly Beck and Erika Jimenez both homered, and the visiting Blue Devils built an 8-2 after three innings in the nonconference game.

Emily Hudgins went 3-for-4 to pace Warren (14-6), which pounded out 12 hits. Caitlyn Britton was 2-for-4 with a double, while Beck went 2-for-3. Sarah Finkel and Claire Swedberg contributed a triple and double, respectively.

Grayslake Central (16-5) got a 3-for-4 effort from Morgan Smigielski, who had a double. Lexi Waigand, Breanna Albert and Lindsay Brust each had a pair of hits. Ace Reagen Radke, who did not pitch, had a double and 2 RBI.

Mundelein 11, Glenbrook South 1: Olivia Michalski went 3-for-3 with a 3-run homer, double and 4 RBI, as the host Mustangs won the nonconference game in five innings.

Kira Buckner was also 3-for-3 and drove in 3 runs for Mundelein (8-11). Kaitlyn Griffin and Meghan Ehemann (2 RBI) both went 2-for-2, and Elise Bernett contributed a double.

Breanna Adams pitched a complete-game 4-hitter, striking out three and walking three.

Vernon Hills 11, Johnsburg 7: Nicole Pieper homered, doubled and drove in 4 runs, Jess Salerno was 3-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI, and the host Cougars won in nonconference action.

Elisa Handler, Quin Yuter and Madison Johnson each had a pair of hits for Vernon Hills.

Vernon Hills 14, Highland Park 5: On Thursday, Delaney Bowen went 4-for-5 with a triple and 4 RBI in her return to the Cougars lineup.

The sophomore shortstop had been sidelined with a concussion.

Elisa Handler was 3-for-4 with 2 triples, a double and 2 RBI in the Central Suburban League game. Mackenzie Mahler was also 3-for-4, as she was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. Vernon Hills got 2 hits apiece from Tatiana Guletsky (2 RBI) and Quin Yuter.

Freshman Brooke Pieper pitched 6⅓ innings of shutout ball in relief to earn the win.