W. Aurora 1, Glenbard North 0

Even before the first pitch was thrown, everyone knew this one was going extra innings.

After all this was the West Aurora and Glenbard North softball teams going at it for the first time in DuPage Valley Conference play this year.

With a pair of new coaches in the dugout and a pitchers' duel between a pair of star juniors on the mound -- West Aurora's Stephanie Becker and Glenbard North's Hannah Santora -- it was no big surprise just a single run won the game in Aurora on Wednesday.

Mariah Barnak's RBI single in the bottom of the 12th allowed Kiara Towles -- Becker's pinch runner after Becker led the inning off with a rare triple -- to score, giving the Blackhawks the 1-0 win in a game that took almost three hours to complete.

"We've had a long history with this team, a lot of great softball games," said first-year Blackhawks coach Dave Zine. "So for some of us who have been around for a long time, we weren't surprised this one went down in extra innings."

Barnak said this was the first time she's hit a game-winner.

"Today was the first day I was (fifth in the batting order), and it was something new," she said. "I just got the job done."

So did Becker. The Mississippi State-bound lefty improved to 10-2 after allowing 2 walks, 6 scattered hits and fanned 13 batters, including all three in the top of the 12th inning.

"We knew what we were getting into, and we've heard nothing but good things about (Becker)," first-year Glenbard North coach Josh Sanew said. "Tip your hat to her, she threw a great game."

It was a tough loss for Santora to take. She finished with 15 strikeouts, 2 walks and 6 hits -- 2 of which were back-to-back in the 12th inning.

Glenbard North (7-6, 2-3) had its chances to score. It left 12 runners stranded, 8 of which were in scoring position.

"If we only could have gotten a hit for her," Sanew said of Santora, who dropped to 7-3. "It's the story of our season, leaving runners on base. It would be different if we didn't get opportunities, but by all means, we are getting every opportunity. We just can't get a big hit."

The Panthers' best chance was in the top of the ninth, when Santora's hit went to center field, where Barnak was to throw baserunner Shannon Hood out at home for the third out.

"Santora, she's a great pitcher and she threw a great game against us, but our outfield did amazing," Becker said. "Mariah's throw home was amazing. She really kept us in the game."

In all of Glenbard North's DVC losses, all but three went to extra innings, including the 12-inning outing against Naperville Central and the 10-inning loss to Wheaton Warrenville South.

"In any of those games, you get a hit here or there, you are on top," Sanew said.