Glenbard S. 10, Batavia 4

Add another 6 RBI to the ever-growing count from Joe Biagini.

Biagini, a senior catcher on the Glenbard South baseball team, helped the Raiders beat Batavia 10-4 with his 3-run double and 3-run home run Wednesday in Batavia.

"He's hit well all year long," Glenbard South coach Mike Riley said of Biagini, who has 8 home runs this season. "He also has a ton of RBI (43), so he's played really well for us. He did a nice job today."

With Glenbard South's win, the Western Sun Conference series is tied at 1. Game 3 takes place today in Glen Ellyn.

Wednesday's game was supposed to be Batavia's Senior Day at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva, but due to the weather, the game was moved. The Bulldogs will get their chance to play at Elfstrom May 19 against Wheaton North at 4:30 p.m.

Glenbard South (16-10, 11-6) scored first after a solo home run from Trace Wanless in the top of the second. The Bulldogs (14-10, 9-8) evened the score in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single from Brian Krolikowski.

Krolikowski did more damage in the fourth with a 2-run home run. That, along with Brad Brandenburg's RBI double, gave Batavia a 4-1 advantage.

"We've been waiting for (Krolikowski) to get his swing down -- that's why we moved him in the seventh spot so he can be a little more patient, so that was nice for him to get that," Batavia coach Matt Holm said.

That would be the last time the Bulldogs scored.

Biagini's 3-run double accounted for all the runs in the fifth. In the sixth, the Raiders scored 6 runs on 4 hits, including Biagini's one-pitch homer and Joe Ramirez' 2-run single.

"We had some clutch hits," Riley said. "Occasionally, we can do that. We need to do that more often, but I thought we swung the bats well."

"We've had trouble keeping leads sometimes, so any time we can put up a bunch, we'll take it," Biagini said. "It was nice to get a good lead."

It didn't help Batavia that it made 2 errors in the sixth inning.

"It's the same old tale," Holm said. "We got going for a few games there and reverted back…today was low energy for some reason."

Glenbard South did a little more damage in the seventh, thanks to leadoff man Will Hill's 2-run triple.

On the mound, Tony Scotellaro pitched the distance, allowed just 1 walk and improved to 6-2.

Alex Beckmann, Mike Sentman, Jordan Coffey, Brandenburg and Krolikowski each finished with a pair of hits for Batavia.

Hill, David Suffern, Wanless and Biagini did the same for Glenbard South, who outhit Batavia 12-11.

Baseball

Geneva 8, DeKalb 2: The Vikings jumped to a 4-0 lead after the first inning. Cory Hofstetter and Rod Nelson both homered for the Vikings (17-6, 10-6). Nelson also picked up his third win, allowing no earned runs through 7 innings.

Boys tennis

St. Francis 3, Marmion 2: Kyle Dawson and Jack Purodi won singles matches for the Spartans. John Mason and Mike Deufel gave the Cadets a victory in second doubles.

Girls soccer

St. Charles North 9, Elgin 0: Caitlin Winkelman scored twice as the North Stars' attack overwhelmed the Maroons.

Aurora Central Catholic 1, Montini 0: Samantha Cowles scored the only goal of the game off an Allison Britton assist. Isabel Garcia made 11 saves for the shutout.

Boys volleyball

St. Francis d. Glenbard West:ŒGlenbard West's boys volleyball team was tied with host St. Francis midway through both games on Wednesday -- 13-13, 14-14.

Unfortunately for the Hilltoppers, the games are played to 25 points, and they were outscored down the stretch by a combined 23-10 as the Spartans overcame early errors for a 25-19, 25-18 victory.

"We usually start games slowly," said St. Francis libero Jay Hayes. "If it's close, as it was tonight, we meet on the court, get into focus and play our game. Mike Segneri, our setter, was connecting with our hitters and when that happens there's no stopping them."

Coach Mike Lynch also factored Hayes' defense into the team's success, praising him for his outstanding play in the libero role.

"It's amazing what Jay Hayes does with the ball," Lynch said. "He gets so many balls up that should be kills that he demoralizes the other team. And he always delivers it perfectly to Segneri. If Jay touches the ball, Segneri doesn't have to move."

Twice everything seemed to be going well for the Hilltoppers (12-14). Then that efficient St. Francis defense-to-offense transition took over and the Spartans (24-3) closed each game easily.

"We weren't blocking," said Glenbard West coach Christine Mayer. "We were too slow on the net. They were running a quicker game. They were getting the ball in the setter's hands and Segneri is great setter."

In both games the variety of the St. Francis attack was apparent as four hitters accounted for kills in the second half of each game.

"Our game plan for today was for everyone to expect to get the ball," Lynch said.

Joey Murnane with 10 kills and Bob Vonderhaar with 9 were doing the most damage at the net, and Aaron Metzler put away 5 kills, including 2 for the final points of Game 2.

Segneri distributed 24 assists and Hayes scored 10 service points and came up with 8 digs.

Kit Ortmann was the main scoring threat for the Hilltoppers with 12 kills and 2 aces He also had 6 digs. Mike Clifford had 8 digs.

"We just started making too many errors," Mayer said. "But St. Francis is a high-quality, experienced team. They're well-coached and they have a lot of depth."

The St. Francis people believe that their experience is the key factor in their successful season.

"We have nine seniors on our team and we're confident," Hayes said. "We know what we're doing out there."

"This team is a coach's dream," Lynch said. "It's a bunch of guys who are great athletes, and who've bought into this volleyball thing. They give 100 percent every day in practice and in matches."

-- Neil Shalin