Softball: Schaumburg knocks out Larkin

Schaumburg needed a win in Elgin on Tuesday to come home Wednesday, and Megan Pasquarelli did her part to make sure the Saxons got it.

Pasquarelli, Schaumburg's No. 9 hitter, went 4-for-4 pacing her team's 15-hit attack in the Saxons' 15-4 win over Larkin.

With the victory, No. 18 seed Schaumburg (3-21) will host top-seed St. Charles East (23-6) on Wednesday in the semifinals of the Class 4A Schaumburg regional.

"We just want to play the best game we can play," Saxons coach Ellen Abreu said. "A little home turf."

Abreu said Pasquarelli played one of her best games of the season. She singled in the second, singled and scored in the fourth, singled again in the sixth and capped her perfect day with an RBI single in the seventh.

"When I went up there the first thing I thought was first-pitch strike," Pasquarelli said. "It worked out."

The Saxons started quickly against No. 16 Larkin (6-22), getting a pair of singles and then a double from their first three hitters - Tiffani Rudnick, Rachel Kissamis and Talia Torosian - for a 2-0 lead.

After Schaumburg went up 3-0 with an unearned run in the third, Larkin made it a 3-2 game in its half. Kathy Garcia had the only hit in the inning as the Royals capitalized on 2 walks by winning pitcher Caitlin Bertaud.

The Saxons quickly extended their lead to 6-2 in the fourth highlighted by a home run from Jayme Kissamis. Ashleigh Felde belted a solo homer in the fifth for a 7-2 lead, then the Saxons broke the game open with an 8-run seventh inning.

The rally started innocently enough with two straight outs, and Larkin almost retired the side in order but a pop-up dropped in short right field. The next 7 batters all reached on singles or walks, and catcher Janalee Lyke capped the inning with her sixth home run of the season, a grand slam.

"I had been struggling and knew I needed to find it and drive it," Lyke said. "We had good energy. I think we all had a fun time playing today. Everyone contributed."

Leadoff hitter Liz Bowman led Larkin with 2 hits.

"Schaumburg played a great game," Larkin coach Anne Vogt said. "They came out and hit the ball. Defensively we played pretty solid compared to the rest of the year. Our bats just didn't come alive. Our girls fought hard all the way and got some runs across in the seventh. Super proud of them."