Conant rallies past Palatine

Trying for its first undefeated conference record in 37 seasons, Conant’s softball team got its biggest scare on Friday in Hoffman Estates.

But the host Cougars rallied with 2 runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game and then pulled out a dramatic 5-4 triumph over visiting Palatine in 10 innings.

The defending Mid-Suburban League champs received home runs from sophomores Telly Hunter and Rachel O’Malley as they improved to 27-2 and 15-0.

O’Malley’s one-out 2-run homer over the left-center field fence tied the game in the bottom of the seventh.

Sarah Thompson led off the bottom of the tenth with a double, advanced to third on Hunter’s groundball and scored on a base hit to left by freshman Elisa Ambrose.

The Cougars will try for a perfect Mid-Suburban West season on Monday when they host Hoffman Estates.

Senior Briana Cavin (25-2) struck out 14 and walked three while Allie Bauch (2-for-5, 1 run), O’Malley (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 run), Miranda Cavin (2-for-4, 1 run), Kim Jacobson (2-for-5) and Ambrose (2-for-5) led the offense.

Pirates pitcher Megan Hedstrom, who struck out four, went 2-for-5 with a double and RBI.

Lauren Logan was 2-for-4 with 1 run and an RBI for Palatine (14-18, 6-9).

Wheeling 2, Prospect 1: Wheeling (6-19, 3-12) got its 2 runs in the top of the sixth when Jackie Resnick and Sara Kern (3-for-3) singled to start the inning. Resnick scored from third base on Amanda Zammatta’s RBI groundout.

Emily Walker (1-for-3) followed with a triple to right for the 2-1 lead.

Winning pitcher Katie Quagliano threw 5-hitter with 4 strikeouts.

Knights ace Hanna Lythberg (7-13) struck out eight while giving up 7 hits.

Prospect jumped ahead 1-0 in the third when Michele Molini walked and scored on a triple to right by Meghan Doyle (2-for-3, triple, double). Prospect (10-23, 6-9) had three more hits in the inning but did not score.

The key defensive play was when Wheeling threw out a Knight at home after Hanna Lythberg (1-for-3) reached on an infield hit.

Schaumburg 17, Hoffman Estates 6: Schaumburg (15-12, 8-7) collected 21 hits, led by Courtney Plackner (3-for-6, 2 doubles), Dana Giannelli (2-for-3, home run, 2 RBI), Hannah Kerr (3-for-5, 2 RBI), Alyssa Lancaster (4-for-4, double, 4 RBI), Carly Brossard 3-4, home run, 3 RBI) and Sarah May (3-for-5, double, 2 RBI).

Schaumburg’s seventh-inning rally of 7 runs was started by senior Marisa Licari, who singled up the middle.

Renee Kakareka (8-4) earned the win over Charlotte Allan of the host Hawks (4-22-1, 1-14).

Sam Acosta (2-for-4), Kaileen Hendle (3-for-4, triple), Nicole LaBeck (2-for-4, double, 3 RBI), Alexis Filler (2-for-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI) and Amanda Harris (2-for-3) led Hoffman’s offense.

Elk Grove 3, Rolling Meadows 1: MSL East champion Elk Grove (24-5, 13-2) received a 3-hitter from Dani Goranson (19-5), who struck out 13 and walked one.

Andrea Starr (2-for-3, 2 runs) had RBI singles in the second and fourth innings and Becca Maher (2-for-2, 1 run) scored on an infield groundout by Carly Danek for the other run in the fifth inning.

Tori Liewergen (1-for-1) scored 2 runs for the Grens.

Junior Sara Brunlieb (12-7) struck out five and did not walk a batter for Meadows (15-15, 6-9) which took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Lane Winkler’s RBI single that scored Hannah Whidden. Josie Suchecki and Whidden also had hits for the Mustangs.

Hersey 3: Buffalo Grove 0: Hersey (15-15, 6-9) got all its runs via the home run.

Angela Schmiederer belted a solo shot with one out to right-center in the first inning and Sarah Platt blasted a 2-run one-out homer to left in the fourth.

Platt (9-7) also got the win, striking out six while throwing a 4-hitter. Val Burke and Haley Henriksen also had hits for host Hersey.

Caitlin Catino was 2-for-4 for BG (9-20, 5-10) while teammates Amanda Salzman and Erin Barton each had 1 hit. Bison freshman pitcher Julia Camardo (7-14) struck out three.

Christian Liberty 12, Willows Academy 0: JuniorBeth Cunningham belted 2 home runs and senior Megan Krizanovic added a triple for host Christian Liberty (9-9) as sophomore Megan Sullivan earned the win.