Softball: Kisch, Burlington Central blank Sycamore

The key to Burlington Central's game-ending rally Tuesday wasn't so much the Rockets hitting the ball as the ball hitting them.

The Rockets scored 2 runs on back-to-back, bases-loaded hit-by-pitches as part of a 7-run fifth inning as Central downed Sycamore 10-0 in 5 innings in nonconference softball action on Rocket Hill.

Emily Kisch recorded the shutout in the circle and helped her own cause with 3 hits and 3 runs scored for the Rockets (3-0).

The Rockets led just 3-0 after 4 innings, but broke it wide open in the fifth. With one out, Kristina Ahlers singled. Kisch, who also had a single and a triple, followed with a double and scored on an error. Central eventually loaded the bases. The Rockets got 2 more runs when Sarah Kinney and Alexandria Rabe were hit by pitches. The game ended a batter later when Kelly Wiater lined a shot past left-fielder Madison Parks, clearing the bases.

Kisch allowed just 3 hits and walked 2 in 5 innings.

"My riseball was working really well for me," Kisch said. "And I was spotting my fastball better. My curveball wasn't on, I was pretty much throwing that down the middle. And I didn't throw my changeup much, but that's OK."

Danielle Yurgil had a pair of hits for the Rockets.

"We were proud of them that they stayed aggressive in that last inning," said Central coach Erica Maisto. "They really opened it up with a couple of hit-by-pitches, especially because they were deep in the count. Hey, take one for the team. A hit-by-pitch scoring a run to me is fine, I'm not ever going to complain."

The Rockets jumped on top in more conventional fashion, when Ahlers walked with one out in the first. Kisch followed with a triple to deep right field and scored on an overthrow. Kisch keyed another Rocket rally in the third. She singled with one out, advanced on a fielder's choice and scored on Yurgil's single.