Softball: Giesey powers a convincing Carmel win

Softball

Jennifer Giesey hit a pair of solo home runs and walked twice, Marla Walinski flirted with a no-hitter, and Carmel Catholic beat Benet Academy 9-1 in East Suburban Catholic Conference softball action Thursday.

Karina Falkstrom was 3-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI for Carmel (17-7, 3-1), and Flynn Johnson belted a 2-run homer.

Walinski lost her no-hit bid in the seventh but still pitched a complete game. She settled for a 2-hitter, striking out two and walking three.

Antioch 3, Grayslake Central 2: Carlie Gaylord hit a 2-run homer in the top of the sixth inning, and the Sequoits held on for a key win in Northern Lake County Conference action.

Antioch improved to 17-4 and 9-2 in the NLCC, while Grayslake Central fell to 20-6 and 9-2.

Annie Wagner (2-for-3) drove in the Sequoits' other run in the first inning. The Rams scored their only runs in the seventh on Nicole Buerger's 2-run double.

Stephanie Bonaguidi pitched 6-plus innings in earning the win. Hannah Cook got the final three outs for the save.

Reagen Radke was 2-for-3 for Grayslake Central and suffered the loss, despite striking out 10 batters.

Libertyville 17, Waukegan 0: Winning pitcher Franny Quenan moved to 4-0 on the sesaon by rolling up 9 strikeouts over 5 innings for Libertyville. Quenan gave up just 2 hits and 1 walk.

Libertyville, which improves to 21-4 overall and 9-1 in the North Suburban Conference, was led on offense by Maggie Evers, who went 4-for-4 with a home run and a double. She drove in 3 runs.

Lyndsey Lyon, Kenzie Rother and Sarah Bennett each added 3 hits for Libertyville and Emily Hilldale finished with 2 hits.

Warren 3, Mundelein 2: Caitlyn Britten had a big day for Warren.

She was the winning pitcher with 2 strikeouts and no walks over seven innings.

Offensively, Britten helped her own cause by smacking 2 hits, including a home run. She also drove in 2 runs.

Claire Shendberg and Emily Hodgins also had 2 hits apiece for the Blue Devils.

Mundelein got 3 hits from Meghan Ehemann while Molly Podraza and Breanna Adams each had a double.

Grayslake North 11, Round Lake 1: Eight starters had hits and seven had RBI as Grayslake North rolled up 13 hits total en route to the victory.

Grace Brown and Lauren Olsen belted home runs for the Knights.

It was Olsen's first home run of the season.

Faith Standerski went 3-for-3 and finished a home run short of hitting for the cycle.

Brown, Olsen and Jenna Pozezinski each finished with 2 hits while Kylie Conrad had a walk-off single to end the game.

Sophomore pitcher Emily Mack earned her second win of the year, getting 7 strikeouts and walking just 1 batter over five innings.

Grayslake North moves to 10-13 on the season and 4-5 in Northern Lake County Conference action.

For Round Lake, Megan Ganno had a double.

Lakes 9, Grant 4: Lakes got the Northern Lake County Conference win.

For Grant, Becca Wold and Megan Mitchell each had 2 hits.