Solid defense lifts Jacobs past Dundee-Crown

Even when Jacobs is struggling with the bats, it can count on its defense.

The Golden Eagles' bats never really took off in Wednesday's Fox Valley Conference Valley Division softball game against Dundee-Crown, but the defense turned in another solid outing.

The Chargers had just 4 base runners all game and were shutout 4-0 at Jacobs.

"They've done really well; we've had a lot of low-scoring games," said Jacobs' pitcher Amber Livingston, who struck out 11 batters while surrendering just 3 hits. "I feel so confident in my defense. I was really hitting my spots well today. When plays were needed, the defense was definitely there."

Dundee-Crown (0-9, 0-3) was threatening to tie the game at 1 when Tiffany Rawlinson got a one-out double in the fourth inning. First baseman Kelsey Peterson then made an unassisted tag on catcher Shelby Spjuth and Danna Jensen grounded out to end the inning.

Rawlinson, who finished with all 3 of Dundee-Crown's hits, was left stranded in the seventh inning after reaching base on a leadoff single.

Livingston (2-1) then struck out Spjuth and walked Jensen. But not to worry as the ace got a called third strike on both Brittany Flynn and Malee Attapit to end the game.

"We need to string hits together to push runs across the plate," Chargers' coach Tracy Beatty said. "(On Tuesday) we had 9 baserunners and left 9 on. That's our weak point."

Jacobs (5-3, 2-1) was not going to give anything up.

During the fifth and sixth innings, Livingston forced infield pop ups to 4 players, with all 4 Golden Eagles' infielders making catches. The most impressive may have been from second baseman Nicky Chapa, who tracked a long popup into the outfield area before making a turning catch.

But that's what the Jacobs' defense is used to doing.

"When we're not hitting, we can always count on our defense to pick it up," said Chapa, who went 1-for-3. "Our defense is our key."

Jacobs got back-to-back hits from Sara Jacobson and Jenna Teson to open the game. Jacobson scored on Peterson's sacrifice fly.

The Golden Eagles added a run from Livingston in the fifth to go up 2-0. She would also help her cause when she hit in third baseman Marissa Lombardo in the sixth to give Jacobs a 4-0 advantage. Lombardo doubled in Peterson to put Jacobs ahead 3-0.

Amanda Eissler (0-2) took the loss for the Chargers despite giving up just 1 run on 3 hits in 4 innings. Melany Love finished the game allowing 2 earned runs on 2 hits. l

"We definitely talked about defense," Jacobs' coach Jeremy Bauer said. "Amber seemed to be hitting her spots with all of her pitches."