One run all Redhawks need
Natalie Wunderlich and Naperville Central finally got the best of their recent nemesis.
The Redhawks scored a run in the first inning and Wunderlich made it stand, outdueling West Chicago's Mary Connolly 1-0 on Thursday in Naperville.
West Chicago (23-5, 8-3 DuPage Valley Conference) beat the Redhawks (21-6, 7-4) twice in extra innings last year en route to the DVC title. The Wildcats won the teams' first meeting this season 1-0 in nine innings.
"We used to always beat them until the last couple years," Wunderlich said. "It's nice to beat them - and only in seven innings."
Naperville Central is likely out of the running for the conference title, but the Redhawks' win could prove costly for West Chicago's hopes for repeating also. The Wildcats are now 2 games behind Glenbard North in the loss column and host the Panthers Monday.
"We knew that this could have been the game that takes us out of it," West Chicago coach Emily Johnson said, "but there's still some teams that have to win games. It's still a race."
Naperville Central jumped ahead early in the matchup of aces. Kelsey Gonzalez was hit by a two-strike pitch leading off the first and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. On a 3-2 count Erin Graham drove a triple over the West Chicago right fielder to score Gonzalez.
"I just knew I had to get it done. I've seen her plenty of times," Graham said, "and I got sick of not hitting her. I knew she was going to throw a strike, because of the count."
"The four games we've played them the last two years, the two teams have scored a total of 3 runs over the first seven innings," Redhawks coach Andy Nussbaum said, "so it feels pretty good getting a run in the first inning."
Connolly (18-3) stranded Graham at third and allowed just one baserunner the rest of the game, on a hit batter. She struck out six, while West Chicago was shut out for the second time in three games. The Wildcats have scored 1 run in that span.
Kaity Olson went 2-for-3 and Izzy Bruce reached base 3 times for West Chicago.
"We got runners on base, we moved them around," Johnson said, "it just did not come together. We would be, what you would call, in a slump."
Wunderlich (14-5) struck out 7 batters in firing her fifth shutout of the year. Her two biggest jams came in the second and fourth, when West Chicago put a runner on second with one out.
"Natalie was sharp today," Nussbaum said. "They got some solid hits off of her, but good pitchers space them out.
"I don't think any of our players are happy at 7-4 in conference. We're disappointed. The way we played today, this is the kind of team we want to be."