Softball: Jess Mrozek helps Fenwick to split in doubleheader with Bishop McNamara

Updated: April 30, 2012 5:38PM

Fenwick pitcher Jess Mrozek held Bishop McNamara to four hits and also knocked in two runs to give the host Friars a 3-1 victory and a doubleheader split with the Irish on Sunday.

Sophomore leadoff hitter Jenna Cairo scored all three runs for Fenwick (12-6, 4-4 East Suburban Catholic) as she reached base on a walk and a pair of singles her first three times at the plate.

Mrozek doubled home Cairo in the first inning and drove her in on an infield grounder in the fifth. After issuing her only walk to the first batter of the game, Mrozek retired the next 12 McNamara batters in order until Jealen Hull singled up the middle to open the fifth and break up the no-hitter.

The Irish (21-4, 8-2) scored their only run in the sixth when Meghan Gill smacked a two-out double to bring home Bailee Porter, who reached an a single.

“We knew these would probably be close games today and we knew we would have to play ‘clean’ ball, and we went out and did it defensively in the second game, making some plays for some big outs that we didn’t do in the first game,” Fenwick coach Jen Butler said. “Jess shut them down so well today. We knew they would get their hits, but she was getting the first hitters out and she only allowed one walk. She was really mixing up her pitches and hitting her spots well. It’s very rare she hangs a pitch or misses a spot. She had them off balance all day with her rise ball and change up.”

Hull (13-3) was victorious from the circle in the opener with a 5-2 complete-game victory, surrendering two hits, striking out four and walking two.

Lauren Jurkovic singled home a run in the second inning and Kyleigh Payne tripled and scored twice to lead the Irish offense.

“We came up with some timely hitting in some key situations and that really was what we needed in this game,” Bishop McNamara coach Laura Harms said. “Everybody chipped in and worked together to get this win. Now we have to make sure we win the games we should and pull off some upsets along the way to have a chance at a conference title. We play Nazareth in a doubleheader next Sunday and they haven’t lost in conference yet.”

Ashley Parenti had two hits and an RBI for Fenwick in game one and Cairo had a double and scored a run. Alex Tomasek reached base three times and scored in the first to give the Friars and early 1-0 lead before Bishop McNamara tied it in the second and added a pair of runs in the third and fifth innings.

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