Star Beacon
May 11, 2008 01:09 am
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It took almost an entire extra game, but the Geneva Eagles remained the hottest softball team in the area Saturday.
Coach Roberta Cozad’s red-hot squad made it seven straight wins with a 4-3, 12-inning non-conference triumph at Beaumont.
Coming off Thursday’s 1-0 victory against six-time defending Northeastern Conference champion Edgewood on Thursday, the Eagles may have been expected to experience a bit of a letdown Saturday.
While surrendering a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh Saturday was certainly deflating, Geneva just pulled up its collective bootstraps, rode the strong right arm of senior pitcher Meagan Brookes and went back to trying to win the game.
In the top of the 12th, catcher Shannon Cummings smacked a two-out single. Erin Zehe pinch-ran for Cummings and took second when Brittany Hayes walked and both runners moved up a base on a passed ball, bringing speedy leadoff hitter Brittany Stevenson to the plate.
The junior dropped a bunt down the third-base line and her wheels allowed her to beat it out as Zehe scored the go-ahead run.
Brookes, who fanned 16 in the game, slammed the door on the Blue Streaks in the home half of the 12th to up her mark to 10-8.
Stevenson led the way with three hits, while Cummings and Amber McGonnell had two each, Cummings cracking a double.
Geneva improves to better than break even for the season at 11-10 with the victory.
n Jefferson 8, Madison 7 — The NEC co-leading Falcons remained hot as they scored two runs in the top of the seventh and withstood a Madison threat in the home half of the frame to record the win.
In the seventh, sophomore Hannah Francis led off with a single to right. Her sister, Courtney, then came through with an RBI double to left to score Hannah and break the 6-6 tie.
Kari Rouzer laid down a sacrifice bunt to get Courtney Francis to third and Callie Busch smacked a clutch RBI single to plate Courtney Francis with the second run, which proved crucial.
In the home half of the seventh, Rouzer, who took over on the mound in relief of starter Megan Gochneaur to begin the fourth, pitched around a leadoff walk, an error, a stolen base, another walk and another error and did so by recording crucial back-to-back strikeouts with one out and the tying run on third and the winning run on second.
Courtney Francis led the way at the plate for Jefferson (15-5), which matched its win total from a year ago, with three hits, including a double, and three runs scored. Hannah Francis had two hits and two runs, Busch had two hits and two RBI and Rouzer improved to 9-4 on the bump with the victory.
Miranda Boggs and Tawna Whited had two hits each for Madison (11-9), with Whited smacking a homer, while Katie Thompson knocked in a pair.
n PV 9, Ledgemont 3 — Freshman Celine Pollander recorded the 10th win of her varsity season and received plenty of offensive support in the first game of a twinbill.
Kasey Landis (double) and Jen DiBell had two hits each for the Lakers, while Jenn Tennant clubbed a triple and freshman Amanda Tennant knocked in a pair of runs. Pollander whiffed seven and did not allow an earned run in improving to 10-4.
n PV 2, Ledgemont 1 — The Lakers had a much tougher go of it in the nightcap, but prevailed, nonetheless, as Jenn Tennant fired a one-hitter, fanning nine, to improve to 7-2.
Tennant helped her own cause by knocking in the tying and go-ahead runs in the home half of the third.
The Lakers up their mark to 17-6 with the sweep.
n Riverside 4, Perry 1 — Erica Tanski had three hits, including a pair of twobaggers, and two RBI, while Amanda Walsh had two hits and drove in a pair to lead the Beavers in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Brittany Breedlove and Alyssa Woltman had doubles for the winners.
Sophomore Aundria Atwell threw a two-hitter, striking out four and not giving up an earned run, to record her first victory on the mound for Riverside.
n Riverside 4, Perry 3 — Tanski (2 hits, double, 2 RBI), Walsh (2 hits), Breedlove (2 hits), Meghan Pizzino (2 hits), Woltman (2 hits) and Lizz Miguet (2 hits) led a 14-hit attack as the Beavers completed the sweep.
Leah Loga went the distance to claim her second win on the mound, striking out eight as Riverside improved to 4-17 with the victories. Perry falls to 7-12 with the double dip.
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