Softball: Four-run inning helps Jacobs top Dundee-Crown
Updated: April 23, 2012 8:46PM
Thanks to a four-run fourth inning and a strong pitching performance, Jacobs topped Dundee-Crown 7-2 on Monday in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division play.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, the Golden Eagles (12-9, 3-3) opened the frame with a double from Alyssa Lach (2-for-4, two doubles) who quickly scored on an RBI single from Maggie Hansen.
It looked like the Chargers (5-12, 1-5) would escape without further damage, though, as they got two quick outs after that, but Kaitlynn Woloszyk kept the inning alive with a single before Tori Berg reached on a dropped third strike that should have ended the inning.
“Not getting that third out in the third inning was really the turning point in the game,” said Chargers coach Tracy Beatty. “We scored two in the top of the inning to take the lead and there was some excitement on the bench, but we really flattened out after they scored and never really recovered.”
Failing to get that third out would indeed prove costly, as McKayla Lein and Jacquelyn Hengler (2-for-4, triple) delivered back-to-back RBI singles to cap a four-run inning and put the Golden Eagles up for good.
From there, starter Katie Kirker (2-1) buckled down, allowing just three hits the rest of the way, as she went the distance, striking out eight.
“(Jackie) is a perfectionist and she works on her craft,” said Golden Eagles coach Jeremy Bauer. “We feel confident that she can get us a win if we spot her two or three runs, but it was good to go out and give her a nice cushion to work with.”
Chargers starter Melany Love lasted just three innings, surrendering seven hits and five runs before giving way to Amanda Eissler, who allowed two runs on three hits over the final three innings.
Offensively, the Chargers did nearly all of their damage in the top of the second inning, as they tallied four hits in the frame and got a two-run single from Mandy Moore to briefly take the lead.
In the end though, the game belonged to the Golden Eagles, and for Coach Bauer, it was his 200th career victory, though he was quick to credit the great players he has coached for making the milestone possible.
“It’s just icing on the cake,” Bauer said while fittingly celebrating with a piece of cake. “It really is a testament to the girls we’ve had through the years, and they deserve the credit.”
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