Eagles just keep winning

Sandburg's top-ranked girls softball team keeps finding ways to win.

The Eagles scored two unearned runs in the third inning, and Brittany Gardner (21-1) fired her third straight shutout as Sandburg slipped past No. 14 Stagg 2-0 Wednesday in Orland Park.

Sandburg (25-1, 10-1) could wrap up its third straight SouthWest Suburban Blue title with a victory at No. 6 Lockport on Friday.

Taylor Dixon and Brittany Wolski helped account for the Eagles’ scoring. Morgan Biel, who was 2-for-2, led off the bottom of the third with a single to center. Following a sacrifice, Dixon reached on an error to put runners at the corners.

Then Dixon went to steal second and nearly collided with Chargers second baseman Julie Sherman as the throw sailed into center field. Despite the protests of Stagg coach Jen Tyrrell for interference, Biel came home with the first run

and Dixon went to third.

‘‘I was going down to second, and at the last second she came in front of me and we kind of collided,’’ Dixon said. ‘‘It’s too bad because I love Julie Sherman. We played on the same summer team, and she’s awesome, but the umpire said that because it wasn’t a batted ball, there was no interference — and it was the right call.’’

Wolski followed with a ground ball to short, and Dixon sprinted home to make it 2-0 as Wolski reached on a throwing error — the third by Stagg (17-6, 6-4) in the inning.

As she's done all season, Gardner (21-1) did the rest. The sophomore lefty allowed six hits, while walking none and striking out nine. She now has 12 shutouts on the season.