Softball: Sycamore stuns Crystal Lake South in extra innings

Crystal Lake South's record-setting season came to an abrupt end Wednesday with a 5-4, extra-inning loss to Sycamore in the Class 3A Genoa-Kingston sectional semifinals.

The Gators finished 31-3 with their first outright Fox Valley Conference championship since 1986. They looked in good shape to keep their season alive against Sycamore by taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning, 3-0 in the second and 4-2 heading to the bottom of the seventh.

But the Spartans, who will play Sterling for the sectional championship Friday, rallied with one out against Christina Toniolo. A hit batter followed by two singles made it 4-3. A walk loaded the bases and Sycamore tied the game on a fielder's choice groundball to short. Toniolo sent the game to extra innings with a strikeout.

After the Gators put two runners on with one out in the top of the eighth, Sycamore made a pitching change that worked when No. 2 and 3 hitters Alexis Pupillo and Emily Sulikowski both struck out to keep the game tied at 4.

With a runner at first and two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Sycamore won the game with a triple over center fielder Skylar Olsen's head.

Only three of the five runs Toniolo allowed were earned. She struck out six and scattered 9 hits and 6 walks.

Brooke Kuffel, Sulikowski, Evelyn Smith and Kyra Swartz all had 2 hits for the Gators.