Cougars clutch when it counts vs. Naperville Cent.

Naperville Central's Megan Silke (middle) gathers a late throw as Plainfield South's Erin Chirikos (right) scores the go ahead run. Backing up Silke is pitcher Natalie Wunderlich.
(Jon Cunningham/Naperville Sun)

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Plainfield South was two runs down and facing a pitcher, Naperville Central's Natalie Wunderlich, who had not lost a game all season when her team scored two runs. But this is a Cougars team that coach Tara Singler said ‘‘never says die.’’

They didn’t. Two-out RBI singles in the fourth by Alex Alvarez and Gaby Liberatore and a two-out RBI double in the fifth by catcher Mary Giancarlo lifted the Cougars past Naperville Central 3-2 Saturday in the title game of the Bolingbrook Class 4A Sectional.

The Cougars (26-8), who won the school’s first sectional title in any sport, will face Lake Park Monday at the Benedictine Supersectional.

‘‘I told the girls to shorten their swings because big swings weren’t gong to work,’’ Singler said. ‘‘[Wunderlich] was throwing hard, and the balls were jumping off the bats.

‘‘Once we tied it, I felt like it was a new game and the first inning all over again.’’

With two out in the seventh, left fielder Jackie Frey, who tripled to start the comeback in the fourth, drew a walk. Giancarlo followed with what turned out to be the game-winning hit.

‘‘I just tried to put it in play,’’ Giancarlo said. ‘‘It just hit my bat, but it felt good.’’

Then the left side of the Plainfield South infield — shortstop Krista Matsui and third baseman Melissa Reyes — took over. In the bottom of the fourth, Matsui made a diving stop and throw for an out that was worthy of being a ‘‘Web Gem.’’

‘‘I had a quick reaction but didn’t think I could throw her out,’’ Matsui said. ‘‘But I thought, why not try. Melissa and I have been playing together since 10-and-under, so we know what the other one is going to do.’’

The game was played early because of Plainfield South’s graduation, but Matsui had to miss it to take placements tests at Northern Illinois, where she is headed in the fall.

‘‘It wasn’t much of a choice," she said. "I had to either miss the game or miss graduation.’’

After the Redhawks (24-7) took a 2-0 lead in the second, Frey led off the fourth with a triple. With one out, winning pitcher Alyssa Schrader (20-5) was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Alvarez and Liberatore singled.

‘‘I was just trying to make contact,’’ Liberatore said. ‘‘I was nervous and jittery.’’