Cary-Grove 9, Crystal Lake South 1

Cary-Grove did not want a carry over from Monday night's 11-1 loss to McHenry.

Through the first 3 innings against Crystal Lake South, things weren't looking much better as the Trojans amassed just 1 hit.

The Trojans exploded for 6 hits and 5 runs in the fourth en route to a 9-1 Fox Valley Conference Valley Division softball victory in Crystal Lake.

"Yesterday, we weren't ready to play," said Cary-Grove pitcher Kristen Bauer, who nailed a 2-run single in the fourth. "It's good to come back from that with a game like this."

Bauer and the defense did the rest. Bauer (6-2) pitched a complete game, allowing just 5 hits and no earned runs.

The offense finished with 12 hits, including a combined 9 in the fourth and fifth innings, but was aided from some South (7-6, 1-3) errors. The Trojans (10-4, 2-2) capitalized on all 3 of South's errors in the fourth inning with the runners scoring.

"We had a hard time fundamentally hitting and fielding. We had a hard time with every aspect. Every aspect of softball, we had a hard time with," said South coach Scott Busam.

Cary-Grove made sure to take advantage. Ellen Jesse and Lindsay Fritz each singled and Alexis Haley reached base on an error.

Catcher Kelly Smith drove in Jesse and Bauer drove in Fritz and Haley to put the Trojans up 3-0. Left fielder Megan Leibforth jacked a two-out 2-run single giving Cary-Grove a 5-0 lead.

"It's timely hits and errors," Trojans coach Tammy Olson said. "The two things combined and snowballed in our favor. The second time around, the girls saw what she was throwing and executed well."

The Trojans extended their lead after scoring 3 runs in the fifth inning. Fritz and Haley did the damage again, each singling to open the inning.

Fritz (2 for 4, 2 runs scored) scored on a wild pitch and Bauer drove in Haley, who had advanced to third on the wild pitch. Smith added a run when Meredith Riemann nailed a RBI double to deep right field. Jessica Gabel (5-6) suffered the loss for the Gators.

"We have a real strong hitting team," Bauer said. "We defiantly came out to play."

South struggled to get much offense going all game. The Gators' lone run came when Emily Mahoney's RBI double scored Becky Yaworski, who reached base on an infield error. South left 8 runners stranded in the game, including 6 in scoring position. Catcher Gina DeFano and Lauren Swanson were the only two Gators to reach base twice in the game.