Schaumburg's timing is right in sweep of Jacobs 2-1, 7-4
Timely hitting is something coaches stand in the third base coaches box and pray for, pretty much on a daily basis.
On Saturday in Algonquin, Schaumburg's softball team delivered at the right time in both games of a nonconference doubleheader with Jacobs, sweeping the Golden Eagles 2-1 and 7-4.
"We got some timely hits and the girls never gave up and that's what we're looking for," said Schaumburg coach Erin Malinowski, whose team came from behind in both games to move to 3-0 on the season.
In Game 1, Saxons' senior Missy Anderson and Jacobs' sophomore Kara Arceneaux locked up in a splendid pitchers duel. Through five innings, the teams had just four total baserunners as the staff aces were in control.
Jacobs broke the ice in the bottom of the sixth. Sara Jacobson stroked a one-out double down the left-field line.
She went to third when Schaumburg's infield made an error on Jenna Teson's grounder and after Casey Bencal walked, Kelsey Peterson hit a dribbler back to the circle that could have been an inning-ending double play.
But Anderson slipped going for the ball, allowing Jacobson to score.
Anderson pitched out of the jam with no further damage, and then led off the Saxons' winning rally in the top of the seventh with a sharp single to right.
"We won our last game (against Downers Grove North) and I just wanted to keep that winning mentality going," Anderson said.
And despite the fact Anderson's courtesy runner, Shannon Giovannone, was caught stealing second, the Saxons had some hop in their step after Anderson's hit, and Jacobs' defense unraveled.
Arceneaux, who struck out nine and walked one, hit Brianne Lingl with a pitch, Theresa McGreevy lined a single to right and Caitlin Becker dumped a single into right to load the bases. A passed ball then plated Lingl with the tying run and McGreevy scored the eventual winning run when Jacobs couldn't handle Alexis Carravetta's pop up.
"We had some defensive miscues and that's all it takes," said Jacobs coach Jeremy Bauer. "They're a good hitting team and they put the ball in play. We had opportunities to get out of that inning and couldn't."
Anderson then set the Golden Eagles down in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win. She struck out 10, including registering the final 6 outs of the game with a K, and walked no one.
"I had that one-run cushion to fall back on and I knew I had to get it done," she said.
Malinowski noticed a more intense Anderson in the seventh.
"She had a lot more fire in her in the seventh inning," she said. "She has to work on keeping that same fire for all seven innings because when she's on she's tough."
Jacobs had a 4-1 lead going into the sixth inning of Game 2 when home runs from Sarah McGinn and Ally Poehlman sparked the Saxons to 6 runs in the final two innings and a 7-4 win. Carravetta was 3-for-4 with a double while Lingl, McGinn and winning pitcher Jessica Cook each had 2 hits. Cook allowed 6 hits in earning the win in the circle.
Peterson was 2-for-3 with a home run and Bencal 2-for-4 with a double for Jacobs, which slipped to 1-2 for the season. Amber Livingston struck out five and walked one in suffering the loss.
"I'd rather have this happen now than in our 32nd game," Bauer said. "The pressure got to us today and we didn't react well."
Fremd sweeps: Senior Casey Latal made her first appearance on the mound this spring a memorable one as the right-hander fired a 4-hitter with 12 strikeouts to give Fremd (4-0) a sweep over visiting South Elgin in the nonconference doubleheader.
Latal blanked the Storm 7-0 in Game 2 while junior Lena Brottman (3-0) struck out eight for a 4-3 win in the opener.
Latal had a 3-run leading going into the fourth inning when the Vikings put 4 runs on the board.
The big blast was Jessica Tackett's fourth home run of the season. She also has 13 RBI in four games.
The 3-run blast off the lefty's bat cleared the right field wall and brought home Lauren Zaworski (2-for-3, 2 runs, RBI, walk, double) and Jenny Schneider (2-for-3, 1 run) with no outs.
Other top hitters for Fremd were juniors Kelly Voigt (2-for-3, 1 stolen base) and Tess Dinterman (2-for-3, 1 steal, RBI).
Junior Emily Janes caught Latal's debut.
"It was good to get these games in today," said Fremd coach Jim Weaver. "It was good for us to be pushed by a good team like South Elgin. They're going to win a lot of games. They hit the ball well."
In Game 1, junior Kristine Werling went 3-for-3 with an RBI and run and also caught Brottman's 8-hitter.
Schneider was 2-for-3 while Zaworski and Latal also had RBI.
Barrington 8, Lane Tech 0: Senior Kim Cygan (9-0) fired a 1-hitter with 13 strikeouts, one shy of her season-high 14.
The right-hander, who did not walk a batter, got all the run support she would need in the fourth inning when the host Fillies scored four times. They added four more in the sixth.
Junior Lindsey Dulla went 4-for-4 with 1 run while freshman Jordan Wekony was 2-for-4 with a double and 4 RBI. Colleen Shandley went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Elk Grove sweeps: Freshman Dani Goranson and junior Stephanie Maday combined for 25 strikeouts as the winning pitchers for host Elk Grove (5-1) which swept St. Charles North.
Goranson (2-0) struck out 12 and walked one (first batter she faced on 3-2 count) while blanking the North Stars 5-0 in the opener.
Top hitters for the Grenadiers were Jessica Balzano (2-for-3, triple, 2 runs, RBI), Nikki Goranson (2-for-4, RBI, run), Olivia Roback (2-for-3, 1 run) and Stephanie Dolce (double).
Maday struck out 13 in Game 2 as she recorded a 1-0 shutout.
The Grenadiers scored in the sixth when Maday, Amanda Mertes and Nikki Goranson all had hits.
With the bases loaded and one out, Caitlin Garrison grounded out to short and Balzano, who had reached on a fielder's choice, scored on the play.
Freshman Megan Keegan (6-for-10 on the season) had a hit in each game and caught Maday's shutout.
Maine West, Leyden split: Maine West won the opener 3-0 behind senior Emily Ott's 1-hitter and 8 strikeouts. Classmate Margo Ehorn doubled for the Warriors (5-5).
Leyden won 9-3 in Game 2 as junior Dana Thomas earned the win.
The visiting Eagles (2-3) had 15 hits, including freshman Morgan Maize (3-for-5,), sophomore Moira Quinlan (3-for-5), junior Eva Gonzales (2-for-4), sophomore Christina Morgan (2-for-4, double) and sophomore Brianna Michels (2-for-4, double).
Ott and Ehorn doubled for the Warriors.
Buffalo Grove sweeps: The visiting Bison (6-1) won the opener 7-3 behind sophomore Emily Begnel (3-0), who struck out eight and did not give up an earned run.
Andrea DiPrima (2-for-4), K.C. Dunne (2-for-4, 2 runs) and Meg Miller (2-for-4, 2 RBI) led the offense for BG.
DiPrima (3-1) tossed a 5-0 shutout in Game 2, allowing only 2 hits and striking out seven. She also went 3-for-4 with 2 doubles.
Danni Shapiro was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI while Dunne (2-for-4) had a triple.
Meadows falls twice: Visiting Maine South stopped the Mustangs (1-4) with 3-0 and 5-3 victories.
In Game 1, freshman Josephine Suchecki struck out eight for Meadows.
She also suffered the loss in Game 2, striking out four in 2 innings of relief for starter Kayla Mueller, who struck out two in 5 innings.
Meadows shortstop Maddy Urban went 2-for-3 with 3 runs and 3 stolen bases in Game 2 and had 3 hits for the day.