St. Edward bounces back to salvage one win

After losing a heartbreaker in the completion of a suspended game, St. Edward made amends with a 5-2 victory against Chicago Christian in the regularly scheduled Suburban Christian Conference softball game Wednesday at the frigid Elgin Sports Complex.

Sarah Field went the distance, allowing 7 hits, and helped herself with 2 hits at the plate. Kristina Brockner and Tara McShane had 2 hits apiece, accounting for all of the Wave's hits in the nightcap.

The first game, which began in Palos Heights on April 16, was tied 5-5 when it suspended by darkness after 12 innings. Wednesday, St. Edward had 2 baserunners the 13th inning, including Field, who doubled, but couldn't score. Then, after getting two quick outs in the bottom half, Field walked Bianca Gutierrez. Gutierrez stole second, then came all the way around to score when the throw glanced off the shortstop's glove into center field.

But the mistake only made the Wave more determined in the second game.

"Everyone knew that we needed to focus for the next game," said Field. "Everyone just came out focused again and kind of brushed it off. But we knew what we did wrong."

It looked like it might be a really long night for the Green Wave (10-6, 4-3) when Game 2 was tied 2-2 after four innings. But the Wave broke it open with 3 unearned runs in the fifth.

Kristi Knott started the rally with a walk. She went all the way to third on a sacrifice and came on to score when the throw got away at third.

McShane and Brockner followed with singles, and both scored when Field's line drive popped out of shortstop Gutierrez's glove.

"I thought we hit the ball well, and we needed that a lot after the first game," said St. Edward coach Mike Rolando. "To give it away after 13 innings, its tough to give them a win like that."

Field gained momentum as she went on. After Mary Kate Venhuizer tripled and scored the go-ahead run in the fourth, Field buckled down. She retired 9 in a row until losing pitcher Lindsey Norway singled with one out in the seventh. But Field got Gutierrez and Megan Glynn to end the game.

Field struck out seven, including 4 in a row in one stretch, and walked none.