Bloomer, Benge Power Chargers’ Rally in Game 1 vs. Highland
Aaron Frey
Tuesday, April 2, 2019 8:20 PM
Athletics
Galesburg, IL
A big fourth inning sent the Carl Sandburg College softball team to a win in Game 1, but Highland bounced back to take Game 2 against the Chargers in an Arrowhead Conference doubleheader Tuesday at the Hungate Baseball/Softball Complex.
Sandburg (7-13, 3-1) extended its win streak to five games with a 7-6 victory in the opener before the Cougars’ 6-2 win in the nightcap.
GAME 1
Sandburg 7, Highland 6
Highland 121 000 2 — 6 8 2
Sandburg 002 500 x — 7 11 1
W: Rachel Barrington 5 IP, 0 K, 2 BB
SV: Kylie Stineman 2 IP, 1 K, 0 BB
Key Moments
- Trailing 4-0, the Chargers scored seven unanswered runs to take the lead, starting with a two-run homer from Emily Bloomer (Burlington, Iowa/Burlington) in the third to cut their deficit in half.
- Sandburg struck for five two-out runs in the fourth after the first two batters of the inning reached. Lauryn Campbell (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) delivered an RBI infield hit to make it 4-3, and Madison Benge (Stronghurst, Ill./West Central) followed with a two-run double to left to give the Chargers the lead. Lizzie Malcolm (Moline, Ill./Alleman) and Abigail Stranger (Abingdon, Ill./Abingdon-Avon) added run-scoring two-baggers of their own to make it 7-4.
- A two-out, two-run single in the seventh got Highland within a run, but Kylie Stineman (New Boston, Ill./Mercer County) coaxed a groundout from the next batter to pick up a two-inning save.
Sandburg Standout
Bloomer finished 2 for 4, adding a first-inning double to go along with her two-run blast, and scored twice.
Other Top Chargers
- Benge 2 for 4, double, run two RBIs
- Campbell 2 for 4, run, RBI
- Malcolm 2 for 3, double, walk, run, RBI
GAME 2
Highland 6, Sandburg 2
Highland 011 004 0 — 6 11 0
Sandburg 100 001 0 — 2 8 2
L: Madison Benge 7 IP, 2 K, 1 BB
Key Moment
Leading 2-1 in the sixth, the Cougars padded their lead by plating four two-out runs.
Sandburg Standout
Campbell singled in each of her three at-bats, including an RBI hit to center in the sixth.
UP NEXT
Sandburg hosts Illinois Valley at 3 p.m. Thursday in another conference doubleheader and the second of five consecutive home dates for the Chargers.
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