Lake Zurich passes up Hoffman Estates

After four innings in Monday morning's 'breakfast special' at the Rosemont Dome, the Hoffman Estates softball team held a 6-0 lead over Lake Zurich.

But the Bears started to eat away at the lead with 1 run in the fifth and sixth innings.

Then, in the top of the seventh, Lake Zurich took its biggest bite.

The Bears scored 5 runs to grab a 7-6 lead, which held up for the final score in the scheduled 8 a.m. contest that started a little late due to the adverse driving conditions early in the morning.

Lake Zurich evened its record to 2-2 while the Hawks suffered their first loss in three games.

"It's not necessarily a terrible thing losing a game like this early in the season," said Hawks coach Lindsey Hamma. "We can learn from it and realize that every inning we have to keep putting more runs on the board and make sure to continue to do the fundamental things so we won't lose a lead again."

Hoffman gained the lead with 1 run in the first inning and added 5 more in the fifth.

Three Hawks had multiple hits in the game.

Senior Caitlyn Farina and junior Jordyn Fera each went 3-for-4 while freshman Mary Bean was 2-for-2.

Farina had a double for the Hawks' only extra base hit; she is now 7-for 11 on the season.

The Hawks' other hit was by junior Tracy Osimowicz, who went all 7 innings on the mound and struck out five.

"Tracy (1-1) really did a great job," Hamma said. "They have some strong hitters in the heart if the order and she did a nice job limiting them.

"Unfortunately they made some good adjustments in the last inning."

The Bears strung together five straight hits in the last inning from sophomore Jessica Puccinelli, senior Rachel Dawson, freshman McKenna Zobel, senior Maggie Hilton and junior Katie Malek.

Malek's single made it 7-6 with two outs and she also ended up the winning pitcher in relief.

Zobel had 2 doubles for Lake Zurich while freshman Guercio, Puccinelli and Hilton had 1 apiece.

"Our girls will go out and have a good practice (on Tuesday) and we'll hopefully be ready to respond on Wednesday."

Hoffman's game on Tuesday with St. Viator has been postponed and rescheduled for Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at Heritage Park in Wheeling.