Loss to Palatine stings Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich's softball team suffered a tough loss for the second day in a row.

The Bears fell to Palatine 5-3 Thursday, failing to hold a 2-0 lead through three innings.

Lake Zurich (2-5), which was coming off an eight-inning loss to Conant on Wednesday, received a 2-for-3 effort from Alli McGinnis, who also stole a base, scored a run and knocked one in. Brianna Welbourn had a double.

Fremd 8, Carmel 0: Lena Brottman pitched a 2-hitter for the visiting Vikings, who pounded out 14 hits.

Warren goes 4-1 in Florida: On Wednesday, the Blue Devils completed their Florida trip by splitting a doubleheader, giving them four wins in five games.

They lost the first game 3-2 to Geneseo from Illinois, before beating Genoa Area of Ohio 7-0.

Kayla Hurd took the loss against Geneseo. Lexi Leneau was Warren's big hitter, going 2-for-2 and scoring a run. Lindsay Horwitz was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

In the second half of the doubleheader, Jessica Demski earned the win, allowing only 5 hits over 7 innings.

Sarah Clauser twice stopped Genoa rallies with sparkling defense, including an unassisted double play. Big hitters included Horwitz (3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, double), Clauser (3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, double) and Kaiti McKeon (2-for-3, run, RBI, double).

On Tuesday, Hurd and Demski combined on a 1-hitter in a 4-0 win over Brimfield from Illinois.

Hurd pitched 5 innings of no-hot ball, striking out 11 and walking only one. Demski earned the save by allowing 1 hit over the final 2 innings.

Alex Booker got the Warren scoring going in the first. She singled and stole second, them trotted home when Abby Anderson (3-for-4) belted a home run.

In the third, Clauser (2-for-3) singled and Hurd doubled her home. Kaiti McKeon (2-for-2) singled Hurd to third. Leneau (1-for-2) followed with an RBI single.

On Monday, Warren beat West Windsor Plaines from New Jersey 4-1. Hurd went the distance, striking out 12 and walking three.

Clauser (3-for-4, 2 RBI, run) and Booker (2-for-4, run) led the offense. Anderson had an RBI double.

Warren opened its trip last Saturday by blanking Maret from Washington, D.C., 3-0 behind the pitching of Hurd and Demski.

Hurd pitched 5 innings of no hit ball, and Demski finished up.

Booker was 1-for-1 with a double and run scored, and Clauser went 1-for-2 with 2 RBI and a run scored.

Warren (5-3) resumes action Tuesday when it hosts Zion-Benton.