Micucci perfect as Pats sweep

What a day of softball it was Saturday for Stevenson.

The host Patriots had two entirely different experiences in their North Suburban Conference Lake Division doubleheader against Mundelein.

Stevenson won the first game 2-0 on a perfect game thrown by sophomore Allison Micucci.

Then the Patriots won 12-11 in Game 2 in a contest that lasted nearly three hours in on-and-off heavy rain with temperatures hovering around 50 degrees.

The sweep hiked Stevenson's record to 16-9 overall and 8-2 in the NSC Lake.

In Game 1, a bunt single by leadoff hitter Traci Africk, a sacrifice bunt by Courtney Belcastro, and an RBI single by Amanda Jaegers in the bottom of the first was all the offense Micucci needed. She retired all 21 batters in order without much drama involved.

The Mustangs (5-16, 1-9) had only a few hard ground outs in the game, but Stevenson left fielder Claire Kirchner did make two key defensive plays to keep the perfect game intact.

"Micucci moved the ball around a lot and we had two really nice catches in the outfield," said Stevenson coach Larry Friedrichs. "(Micucci) had a 1-hitter earlier in the season in a game we unfortunately lost at Lakes."

The Patriots appeared to be headed for an easy victory in the second game as they built a 10-2 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Unlike the first game where there were a total of 3 hits, the teams combined for 28 hits in Game 2, including 10 for extra bases.

After Stevenson starter Genny Duffy pitched the first 4 innings, the Mustangs started an unlikely 8-run bottom of the fifth against reliever Jordan Willis, who would have control trouble.

After a leadoff walk by Leslie Harshey, Justina Doll singled to left for the Mustangs. Then Jordan Lundsten's 2-run double to right made the score 10-4 before Willis walked the next two batters to load the bases.

Duffy re-entered the game at that point, but she walked Katie Randau with the bases loaded to make the score 10-5.

Another bases-loaded walk by Kim Krause cut the gap to 10-6 before designated-player Hillary Hamblin's 3-run triple to right-center made the score 10-9 with still nobody out.

An RBI double by Harshey tied the game at 10-10 before the Pats would finally get out of the inning.

"That is easily the most runs we have scored in one inning this season and a lot of the kids had big hits," said Mundelein coach Ted Juske. "Harshey did a great job (pitching), our sophomores are starting to hit the ball well, and that was nice to see."

Mundelein took an 11-10 lead in the bottom of the sixth when Krause reached on an infield single before eventually scoring on an RBI single by Deanna Wise.

But the Patriots answered the bell in the top of the seventh as Belcastro led off with a single to center before advancing to third on a two-base error by the outfielder.

A fielder's choice RBI by Jaegers tied the score at 11-11 before Tovah Schwartz reached base with an infield hit.

Then with two outs, Rebekah Ozga's RBI triple over the left fielder's head drove in Schwartz with what proved to be the game-winning run.

Schwartz had a 3-run triple to give the Pats a 10-2 lead in the top of the fifth while Mundelein's Jessica Bjerning was 3-for-4 with 2 doubles in the nightcap.

Erica Castriano was 2-for-3 for Stevenson with 2 runs and a double while Kirchner was 1-for-2 with 2 walks, 2 runs, and a double.

Harshey took the loss in Game 1 while allowing only 3 hits. Krause started the second game before Harshey replaced her in the top of the third inning down 6-2.