South Elgin gets past Elgin 2-0

Courtney Bosteder started things and Katelyn Stonecipher finished them for South Elgin.

Bosteder (2-for-2) recorded 2 RBI and Stonecipher made a diving grab in the seventh inning to secure a 2-0 victory over visiting Elgin in Upstate Eight Conference softball action on Wednesday.

"I knew I couldn't make an error; that could have cost us the game," Stonecipher said. "I tried my best with the backup defense."

Trailing 2-0, Elgin's Brandi Hernandez got a one-out single in the top of the seventh. Catcher Caris Alan then blooped a shot right between first and right field, which could have advanced Hernandez to at least third. Stonecipher responded by racing in from deep right and sliding behind South Elgin first baseman Xenia Cerda to keep Hernandez at first. The sophomore ended the game a batter later when she nabbed Hannah Perryman's flyball.

"That was a big catch," Storm coach Jason Schaal said. "She does a great job for us. All three of our outfielders play center field on traveling teams. Anything in the air, we feel we're going to get."

Stonecipher (2-for-4) scored for South Elgin (12-7, 6-2) in the first off the first of Bosteder's RBI hits. Elgin (5-15-1, 3-6) did not give up much the rest of the way.

Pitcher Kelly Patchett (1-6) used a variety of change-ups and never allowed the Storm to get comfortable at the plate. The Storm finished with 5 of its 8 hits in the first and third innings, the two innings in which it scored its runs.

"She hits her spots and keeps the batters off balance," Elgin coach Peg Corcoran said of Patchett. "Our problem right now is we're leaving too many runners on base."

The Maroons, who stranded 22 runners in Monday's tie with Hampshire, left 8 runners on base 0 against South Elgin. Elgin had runners and second and third with one out in both the second and third innings, but both times, Storm pitcher Lauren Vitiello (2-1) got her team out of a jam.

Elgin finished the game with 7 hits including Alyssa Higdon's double in the sixth, but failed to string enough together to pick up a run. The Storm managed just enough.

After taking the 1-0 lead in the first, Bosteder came through with an RBI double in the third to score Kim Pierce, putting South Elgin up 2-0. The Storm also left 7 runners on base, including 4 in scoring position.

"Coming into the game, we knew we would have to get used to the speed of (Patchett)," Bosteder said. "I knew I needed to stay back. She had a good changeup."