Felde fires Schaumburg past Jacobs

Overpowering fastball, moving rise ball and backbreaking changeup.

Schaumburg hurler Shannon Felde had her entire arsenal of pitches working in masterfully throwing a 2-hit shutout as the Saxons blanked host Jacobs 8-0 in Game 1 of a nonconference doubleheader Saturday in Algonquin.

Schaumburg completed the sweep with a 6-5 win in Game 2.

In Game 1, Felde, who will pitch collegiately at Illinois State, struck out nine and walked four in 7 innings.

"All my pitches were working and I was able to hit my spots," said Felde. "My velocity was good and I was able to keep the hitters off stride."

Felde, who played shortstop in Game 2, also excelled at the plate with 5 hits, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored.

In Game 1, the Saxons (9-4) pounded losing pitcher Kelsey Peters for 14 hits.

After a scoreless first inning, Schaumburg plated 4 in the second courtesy of a 2-RBI single by Felde and RBI singles from Elaine Walker and Jamie Kudjer.

Christina Candiotti led the Saxons' offensive barrage with a 4-for-4 effort with an RBI and a double while Walker contributed 3 hits and an RBI for the Saxons.

'We played really well," said Schaumburg coach Ellen Abreu. "Shannon pitched great and we had a good patient approach at the plate."

Jacobs (11-4) was much more competitive In Game 2.

The Saxons seized control of the game early with 2 in the first on a 2-run homer by Paige Alt and a run in the third on an RBI single by Walker.

Schaumburg scored single runs in the fourth and fifth on an RBI single by Sarah Schwind and an RBI double by Roxanne Kakareeka to lead 5-0 after 4½ innings.

But Jacobs refused to quit and scored 3 in the fifth on RBI singles by Kelsey Cummings and Alyssa Lach and a sacrifice fly by MacKenzie Vaughn.

Jacobs knotted the game at 5 with 2 in the sixth with the big hit coming from an RBI double from Emily Borg.

Schaumburg scored the game-winning run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Candiotti.

Alt, who picked up the win in relief, struck out Hailey Lonigro to end the game.

Felde led Schaumburg with 3 hits and 2 runs scored. Sarah Murray had 2 hits and 2 runs scored for the Golden Eagles.

"We ran into a very good pitcher in the first game," said Jacobs coach Jeremy Bauer. "We made some adjustments in the second game and played much better. I am hoping the second game will catapult us positively into this week's conference games."