Softball: Nallen's slam gives Conant win

Paige Nallen sure picked a nifty time to deliver the first home run of her three-year varsity career at Conant.

With the bases loaded, two outs and a 3-2 count in the bottom of the seventh inning, the senior first baseman got the Cougars' softball season off to a dramatic start Wednesday by belting a grand slam over the center field fence.

The walk-off blast gave the Cougars a 14-10 triumph over visiting Wheaton North after they suffered a tough 5-4 setback in the first game of the doubleheader in Hoffman Estates.

"It feels great," said Nallen who went 3-for-4 in the game with a walk and 4 RBI. "I'm just happy I could do it for my team. It was important to get that win just to bring the team together after the loss in Game 1. It felt good to do it for my teammates."

"Paige always has good composure," said Cougars coach Cathyann Smith about Nallen, who plans to study at the University of Iowa. "She went up there and put it over the fence. It was a great way to start her senior year. Paige is a reliable player."

The Cougars had 10 hits in a game in which they trailed 4-1 but scored 6 runs in the top of the third to take an 8-4 lead. They led 10-9 when Wheaton North tied the game at 10-10 in the top of the sixth.

Winona State-bound Makayla Mckenna also homered for Conant while junior Morgan Long, a Milwaukee School of Engineering recruit, and sophomore Hannah Oh each had doubles.

Making her varsity debut, Cougars freshman pitcher Julia Flaishaker went all seven innings for the win.

In Game 1, senior Jackie Burchfield's 2-run homer got the Cougars to within 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh before Wheaton North got the final out for the win.

Senior catcher Sydney Correa also homered for Conant while Wisconsin-Eau Claire recruit Jackie Carlucci, who took the loss, struck out seven.

Prospect 15, Cloverleaf (Lodi, OH) 0 (4 innings): Dayton-bound Alyssa Cacini belted 2 homers and went 3-for-4 with a double to lead the Knights' 10-hit attack.

Junior Madeline Borkowski (2-for-3, double) and classmate Emalee Depa (2-for-3) were also multiple hitters for Prospect (5-1) which closed out its trip to Orlando with a 4-1 record.

Depa threw a 3-hitter to earn the win, striking out one and walking only one.

On Tuesday, the Knights posted a 9-2 win over West High School (WI) as Northwestern-bound Lauren Caldrone (3-for-4) and Cacini (2-for-3) each doubled and Illinois Wesleyan recruit Colleen Palczynski homered.

Claire Doherty earned the win, throwing a 6-hitter with 11 strikeouts and 4 walks.

Streamwood 5, Hoffman Estates 3: The host Sabres improved to 2-1 while Hoffman Estates stands at 1-3 after the nonconference game in Streamwood.