Sandburg Softball Bounces Back to Earn Split at Illinois Valley
Aaron Frey
Wednesday, April 24, 2019 10:06 AM
Athletics
Oglesby, IL
After a tough defeat in Game 1, the Carl Sandburg College softball team bounced back in impressive fashion to hand Illinois Valley its first Arrowhead Conference loss of the season and keep the Chargers’ title hopes alive Tuesday afternoon.
In a matchup of the Arrowhead’s top two teams, the Eagles won the opener 6-5 before Sandburg blew out IVCC 10-0 in Game 2. The Chargers are now 25-21 overall and 12-2 in the conference with six Arrowhead matchups remaining. Illinois Valley moved to 9-1 in league play.
GAME 1
Illinois Valley 6, Sandburg 5
Sandburg 000 041 0 — 5 11 4
Illinois Valley 000 110 4 — 6 11 0
W: Lexi Juergens 0.1 IP, 0 K, 0 BB
Key Moments
- Down 1-0 in the fifth, the Chargers scored four times to grab the lead. Erin Flairty (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) smacked a two-run homer to left to get Sandburg on the board. Madison Benge (Stronghurst, Ill./West Central) added a two-out single later in the inning to make it 3-1, and Grace Wilmington (Chillicothe, Ill./Illinois Valley Central) followed with a line-drive double to left for a 4-1 Chargers lead.
- Sandburg took a 5-2 lead in the fifth as Katie Droste (Biggsville, Ill./West Central) drew a two-out walk and scored when Emily Bloomer (Burlington, Iowa/Burlington) came through with a double to left.
- Three straight one-out singles got IVCC within 5-3. The Chargers couldn’t corral a pop-up and missed grounder for the final out as the Eagles made it 5-4, and Illinois Valley took the win as Paige Korsan hit a two-run single to center with two outs.
Sandburg Standout
Bloomer was 4 for 4 at the dish for the Chargers with a double, run scored and an RBI.
Other Top Chargers
- Wilmington 2 for 3, two doubles, walk, RBI
- Kylie Stineman (New Boston, Ill./Mercer County) 6.1 IP, 1 K, 0 BB
GAME 2
Sandburg 10, Illinois Valley 0 (5 innings)
Sandburg 051 13 — 10 10 2
Illinois Valley 000 00 — 0 4 2
W: Madison Benge 5 IP, 3 K, 1 BB
Key Moment
The Chargers’ first five batters in the second reached base and came around to score as Sandburg jumped to a big early lead. Benge led off with a single and scored on Wilmington’s double to left. Lizzie Malcolm (Moline, Ill./Alleman) traded places with Wilmington for a 2-0 lead. A base hit by Julia Vosburgh (Woodstock, Ill./Woodstock) put runners at the corners for Haley Stevenson (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg), whose grounder was misplayed by the catcher and allowed two runs to score. Stevenson came home on Bloomer’s RBI groundout three batters later for a 5-0 Chargers advantage.
Sandburg Standout
The early cushion was more than enough for Benge, who went the distance in a four-hit shutout. The sophomore struck out three and walked one while throwing just 65 pitches. She also went 1 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored.
Other Top Chargers
- Flairty 2 for 4, RBI
- Wilmington 2 for 3, double, two runs, RBI
- Malcolm 2 for 3, double, two runs, RBI
- Stevenson 1 for 3, run, four RBIs
UP NEXT
The Chargers will host Sauk Valley in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Thursday.
HOME GAMES WITH IVCC RESCHEDULED FOR MAY 3
Sandburg’s home doubleheader against Illinois Valley that was postponed on April 4 has been rescheduled for 3 p.m. May 3.
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