Cary-Grove solid in win over Jacobs

Timely hitting and solid pitching.

Those ingredients produced a 6-2 Cary-Grove win over Jacobs in a Fox Valley Conference Valley Division softball tilt played in Algonquin Tuesday afternoon.

The defending division champion Trojans (9-1, 2-0) received their usual outstanding pitching effort from sophomore Lindsay Efflandt, who struck out five and walked one in 7 innings of work. She gave up 2 runs on 5 hits in improving her record to 7-1.

“Lindsay pitched a great game,” said Cary-Grove coach Tammy Olson. “We got some early runs for her and she did a great job of working the hitters. She has really been consistent this season.”

While Efflandt sparkled in the pitchers circle, the Trojan offense scored 6 runs on 11 hits with 4 extra base hits.

Eleni Polites (triple, 2 runs scored), Emma Gaulke (1 RBI, 2 runs scored), Efflandt (RBI) and Taylor Dunne (2 doubles, 2 RBI) each had 2 hits for the winners.

“We set our goal every game to score in the first inning,” said Dunne. “It is important to play with the lead. We are swinging the bats well as a team. It is always good to win on the road in the conference.”

The Trojans seized control of the game with 2 runs in the first inning off Jacobs senior Marissa Lombardo. Alexis Haley and Efflandt stroked RBI singles as Cary-Grove led 2-0 after one inning.

The Trojans added 2 in the third on an RBI single by Gaulke and an RBI double from Dunne. Cary-Grove added single insurance runs in the fifth and seventh innings.

Efflandt, who had a no-hitter for 3 innings, surrendered a single to Jenna Teson to lead off the fourth for the Golden Eagles’ first hit of the game. Jacobs scored its first run of the game in the fourth on an RBI double by Kelsey Peterson, which scored Teson. The Golden Eagles tallied a single run in the seventh on an RBI single by Ashley Morales.

Alyssa Lach paced the Golden Eagles (5-6, 1-1) with 2 hits including a double.

“Cary-Grove outplayed us and out-hustled us today,” said Jacobs coach Jeremy Bauer. “They played with confidence and a swagger and we didn’t. We had some things set up offensively, but we had some crucial baserunning mistakes. Hopefully we can bounce back (today) and play better.“