Softball: Benner's bat stays hot in Meadows' win
Rolling Meadows 6, Schaumburg 4: Junior Sara Benner connected for her fifth homer of the season and the 3-run blast to left with no outs in the bottom of the third served as the game-winning RBI in Rolling Meadows' 6-4 win over visiting Schaumburg.
Benner, who is batting .684 with 18 RBI, went 2-for-2 with 3 RBI and 2 runs while classmate Sam Allen was 2-for-3 with 2 runs) as the Mustangs raised their record to 2-4 and 1-1 in the Mid-Suburban East.
Junior Caroline Slowik had a big RBI single in the fifth inning when the Mustangs extended their lead to 6-2.
Junior Stephanie Thompson added a double for Meadows which received an 8-hitter with 9 strikeouts by winning pitcher Elise Kowalski, also a junior.
Talia Torosian (2-for-4), Janalee Lyke (2-for-3, double) and Ashleigh Felde (double) led the offense for Schaumburg (0-6, 0-2).
Palatine 9, Wheeling 0: Palatine improved to 7-0 and 2-0 in the MSL West as Sarah Grossman (5-0) struck out 17 while tossing a 2-hitter.
"Sarah did a great job hitting her spots today," said assistant coach Kristen Proffitt "She was throwing hard and had great movement. We couldn't ask for more out of a pitcher than Sarah gave us today."
"The defense backed me up and made the plays when they needed to be made," Grossman said. "I just wanted to win every at-bat. I knew that my team was going to back up my pitching with runs."
Grace Huff (3-for-3, triple, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Maddie Craver (2-for-4), Brittany Padden (3-for-4, double, 2 RBI, 2 runs) and Rhiann Dick (3-for-4, double, 2 RBI) led the Pirates' offense.
"It felt good to be out there today," Huff said. "We were really excited to play. I was happy to help the team and drive in as many runs as I could. It was a really good team win."
"We did a good job putting hits together to score along with a solid defensive performance," Padden added. "Sarah is unstoppable on the mound. It was a good game and we were strong today."
Sophomore Emily LaCaeyse recorded 5 strikeouts for Wheeling (0-1, 0-1).
Barrington 12, Elk Grove 1 (5 inn.): Loyola recruit Abbey Jacobsen (2-for-4) belted 2 homer runs and DePaul bound Tori Meyer (3-for-4) had one for the visiting Fillies (9-0, 2-0).
Senior Catherine McMahon (4-2) went the first four innings (6 strikeouts) to earn the win.
Other multiple hitters for the Barrington were Caroline Hoppe (2-for-3, 2 doubles), Kendall Peterson (2-for-3, double) and Katherine Stagnito (2-for-3). Meyer and Jenna Patino also doubled for the winners.
Freshman Olivia Masnica led off the bottom of the third inning with a home run for Elk Grove (1-5, 0-2) while junior Jaimie Klicka and sophomore Grace Engwall each had singles.
Conant 9, Buffalo Grove 2: Conant senior pitcher Jackie Carlucci (2-1) earned the win, striking out seven in four innings.
Senior Makenna McCarthy belted a homer for the Cougars (3-2, 2-0) and went 2-for-4 with 5 RBI. Other multiple hitters for the Cougars were seniors Paige Nallen (2-for-3, 2 runs), Sydney Correa (2-for-4, RBI, 1 run) and Jackie Birchfield (2-for-4, 1 run).
Senior Katelyn O'Rourke went 2-for 3 for the Bison (2-3, 0-2).
Hersey 17, Hoffman Estates 2: Defending MSL East champion Hersey (4-2, 1-1) notched its first conference win over the visiting Hawks (1-4, 0-2).