Rusin sparks Riverside-Brookfield to sweep

Updated: April 5, 2011 2:16PM

Five games into his first season as Riverside-Brookfield softball coach, John Vermillion has yet to lose.

The Bulldogs improved to 5-0 and ruined Lyons' season opener by sweeping the Lions 4-2 and 7-3 Saturday in Western Springs.

In

the twinbill, R-B leadoff hitter Kiley Rusin (2-for-5) hit a pair of

doubles and scored two runs. Her hit to center field in the fourth

inning brought across pinch-runner Meghan Orgler to give the Bulldogs a 5-0 lead.

"We have a new coach," Rusin said. "There is

definitely a different atmosphere at practices. I enjoy leading off and

starting things off. My teammates can bring me around the bases."

Kylie O'Connell was R-B's winning pitcher in the first game and

Rachel Denneny won the second game. Lyons scored twice in the bottom of

the seventh inning in the second game with two outs, but Ronnie

Christopher lined out to end the game.

Lyons (0-2) rallied late in each game and even stranded the tying run at first base with two outs in the opener.

Lyons junior Alyssa Koziol took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of the first game, but allowed five consecutive hits as the Bulldogs scored all off their runs in the sixth.

Freshman Ashley Koziol made her prep pitching debut in the second game, but allowed three runs as eight batters went to the plate in her first varsity inning. R-B's first two batters against Ashley Koziol hit doubles and scored.

"In the first game, I though Alyssa did a nice job," Lyons coach Dawn Schabacker said. "They have some tough hitters. A couple that were up in the air should have been caught."

Lyons could not overcome the early deficit when R-B also scored three in the fourth off Ashley Koziol, who was replaced in the fifth by Christopher.

"I was really nervous," Ashley Koziol said. "Being a freshman, everyone else has two years of experience on me."

For Alyssa, the season opener marked one of the few times she has been able to play on the same diamond as her sister due to the age difference. Before the first game, Alyssa has tried to help her sister with some pointers on drills during preseason practice.

"It's different. We haven't played together for a while, so it's nice," Alyssa said.

Lyons junior Chelsey Grady went a combined 3-for-4 in the doubleheader with an RBI single in the seventh inning of the second game. She also singled in the first game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh.

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