Softball: Antioch rallies again, knocks off Lake Park

The ability to battle back has been a common theme this week for the Antioch and Lake Park softball teams.

When the Sequoits (17-2) fell behind 3-0 following Marissa Marciniak’s 3-run home run in the second inning, it was a familiar storyline.

“Earlier in the week, we got behind against Wauconda and battled back (to an eventual 5-4 win),” said Antioch coach Anthony Rocco.

Antioch rallied for a pair of runs in the third and fourth, added 3 insurance runs in the seventh, and held off a late Lancers comeback for a 7-5 nonconference victory Saturday at Lake Park.

Senior catcher Addison Webb’s 2-run home run in the seventh — the ball hit the top of left-field fence and rolled over - helped extend the Sequoits’ lead to 7-3.

“Coach Rocco told me before the at-bat, ‘your first ones (pitches) are going to be the best,’ so I went in there attacking,” Webb said of her third home run of the season. “My first pitch, I had a good, strong cut but didn’t make contact. My second pitch, it just went. My swing felt good.

“It came in handy at the end.”

It came in handy because the Lancers (14-5) refused to roll over.

Less than 24 hours after rallying from a 6-0 deficit to edge St. Charles North, 11-10, the Lancers staged another comeback in the bottom of the seventh.

After back-to-back singles from Reese Nolbertowicz and Maya Melendez, Gianna Doyle delivered a 2-run, 2-out single to cut the deficit to 7-5.

Caleigh Cusack then sliced a single to right, bringing Marciniak to the plate as the potential go-ahead run.

“We’re seeing that a lot with this team — we never quit,” said Lancers coach Lynsey Gunnells. “We put the ball in play and make things happen.”

Antioch sophomore pitcher Addison Osborne retired Marciniak on a soft liner to third baseman Addison Housh to end the game.

“She’s used to it,” Rocco said of Osborne’s relief appearance. “She’s 3 for 3 on saves and last year, she was 10 for 10 so we trust her.

“Her and Pearl (freshman starting pitcher Wenzel) have a good thing going, giving people different looks. ‘Os’ has gotten out of plenty of jams for us.”

Osborne entered the game in the fifth after Melendez’ double put runners on second and third with 1 out and the Lancers trailing 4-3.

After hitting Alex Kiefer with a pitch on her first offering, Osborne escaped the jam on a foul infield pop to Housh and a fly ball to center fielder Tegan Schuler.

“Unfortunately, we left nine runners on base today,” said Gunnells. “We couldn’t get that little hit we needed.

“Right now, we’re going through the gauntlet — St. Charles East, St. Charles North, and Antioch. You want to play the best to be the best.”

Claire Schuyler and Housh also enjoyed 2-hit games for the Sequoits, who extended their winning streak to 9.

“It was an all-around team game,” said Rocco. “This is a good way to prepare for the playoffs and to get to our goal of 20 wins before the playoffs.”