Softball: Sandburg survives Lincoln-Way Central

Updated: April 13, 2012 7:54PM

Some big fundamental mistakes by teammates cost Sandburg pitcher Amanda Barna a 5-0 lead in Friday’s SouthWest Suburban Blue contest against host Lincoln-Way Central.

Barna didn’t point any fingers.

When the Knights appeared poised to make a second comeback in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out RBI double by Michelle Kriegshauser, she did – at herself.

“The double was my bad, my mistake,” she said. “I take full accountability for that.”

It made catching an ensuing popup by Kayla Pope a little bit sweeter.

“It was just like a cherry on top because it felt just like a strikeout,” Barna said with a smile after the Eagles held on for a 7-6 victory.

Freshman Ellie Forkin, meanwhile, was big with the bat for Sandburg with two home runs and three RBI. Barna (2-for-4) also smacked one out as the Eagles improved to 7-3, 1-1.

Lincoln-Way Central (6-5, 0-2) got two hits each from Kriegshauser and Kylie Bennett.

Sandburg’s power show occurred over the first three innings and resulted in a 5-0 lead and the exit of Knights starter Alyssa Farbak. In her place, freshman Melanie Bakotic came on to walk the first two batters, then retire 12 of the next 13 hitters.

“She went up to the Jacobs quad with us a couple of weeks ago and pitched an inning,” Knights coach Steve Paulsen said. “Then I wanted her to get a few more starts at the freshman level. But she’s up with us from now on. She did a nice job coming in.”

An infield execution error by Sandburg in the bottom of the fifth helped set up Gabbie Boerema’s two-run single that broke the shutout. Bennett followed with an RBI double to make it 5-3.

Barna struck out two straight batters to give herself a chance to escape more damage, but a routine popup to shallow center by Kriegshauser fell between two hesitating Sandburg fielders for a two-run game-tying single.

The Eagles got to Bakotic in the top of the seventh. Forkin’s grounder to second with a Candace Koch (walk) on third brought in one run, while Jessie Pesavento hit a sharp ground RBI single to right for what would be the difference-maker.

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