Benet takes out frustrations on St. Viator
Benet washed out the rare taste of defeat Tuesday - in a big way.
Three days after the Redwings' 19-game winning streak was snapped by Marist, Benet thumped St. Viator 9-1.
Meghan Eastman (18-4) struck out 12, taking a shutout into the seventh, and the Redwings sent 12 batters to the plate in a 6-run fourth.
"I think we almost got used to winning," Eastman said, "and maybe took it a little bit for granted. It's nice to get this win now, because we were kind of down on Saturday."
The sweep at the hands of Marist might have cost the Redwings (26-5, 16-2 East Suburban Catholic) the conference title, but it's still been a banner season at Benet. During that 19-game win streak the Redwings shut out 12 straight conference opponents at one point. Benet is pushing the 29-victory total of the 2005 sectional championship team.
"These kids are playing phenomenal," Benet coach Jerry Schilf said. "It was an unbelievable streak and these kids have accomplished an awful lot. They play hard the rest of the season, they'll have a season to remember. We're good enough to take this thing far."
Claire Geyer singled to lead off the bottom of the first and came around to score on a two-out double steal. Alyson Staats also came home on a double steal in the fourth.
"I decide to go (on the double steal), and just go - you can't hesitate," Geyer said. "Usually we have somewhat of a plan to go, but it's up to my judgement."
Kelsey Wirth had an RBI single in a 2-run second. Courtney Makowski singled in Geyer in the fourth, Staats had a 2-run double and Geyer a 2-run single her second time up in the inning.
That was more than enough support for Eastman. She worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the first, then allowed just 1 baserunner to reach second until the seventh inning.
"Kelsey (Wirth) calls a great game. We have good chemistry," Eastman said, "and I have a good defense behind me.
"We came into this season hoping that we would maybe go .500 - we really didn't have that high of expectations. Now that we've got a taste of winning we want more."