No hits, no problem as Wave wins opener

No hits? No sweat.

The St. Edward softball team struck out 17 times and was held hitless by Genoa-Kingston senior pitcher Lindsay Decker in Wednesday's season opener for both teams.

However, the visiting Green Wave still managed to eke out a 1-0 nonconference victory, thanks to a stellar varsity pitching debut from freshman Sarah Field and a perfectly executed defensive play that nailed the potential tying run at the plate for the final out of the game.

Trailing by a run in its last at bat, G-K threatened as leadoff hitter Jami Miller singled to center field and stole second base.

With two outs, No. 6 hitter Brittany Giddings singled sharply up the middle. As Miller was rounding third and chugging for home, St. Edward center fielder Kristi Knott fielded the ball and unleashed an accurate throw on the fly to catcher Kristina Brockner.

"I was just thinking, 'Hold on to it, hold on to it,' " said Brockner, who was bowled over in the subsequent collision at the dish by Miller.

"I am just so excited," said Knott, a sophomore. "Before the play Brockner yelled out to me that (Giddings) had hit it to me her last two times up, so I was ready for it."

Said G-K coach Mike Lauer: "With two outs I had to send the runner. It took a perfect play. I knew (Knott) was a nice player and could throw, but if the throw had been offline by even a little, the game would've been tied."

Field earned her first varsity win in shutout style by limiting the Cogs to 4 hits on 70 pitches in 7 innings. She struck out 7 without a walk.

"My curveball was working well for me today," said Field. "I was pretty nervous at first, but I'm really excited. I knew we could do this."

St. Edward managed just 2 baserunners through the first 6 innings. Each reached on dropped third strikes when the G-K first baseman couldn't squeeze the ensuing throws from the catcher.

St. Edward No. 3 hitter Megan Pozezinski, drew a walk to start the top of the seventh inning.

Brockner then bunted a ball that died upon contact with the wet dirt in front of the batter's box. Genoa-Kingston's catcher fielded the ball and fired toward first base, but her throw sailed high and Pozezinski scampered around the bags while the Cogs chased the errant throw down the right-field line.

The lone marker stood up, thanks to the Knott-to-Brockner connection, which made a winner of first-year coach Mike Rolando in his varsity debut.

"Our girls can play some defense," Rolando said. "We got a great game out of our defense, which was tested today, and I thought Sarah really pitched great out there."