Munster’s offense stays hot

Updated: May 9, 2011 10:56PM

MUNSTER — The way Munster has been pounding the ball recently, it really didn’t matter what Hobart starting pitcher Jaclyn Sandilla threw over the plate.

The streaking Mustangs (17-5, 8-3) crushed the ball in the first two innings -- pounding out 11 hits and scoring 13 runs -- and cruised to a 13-0 win over the Brickies (6-13, 2-8) in Northwest Crossroads Conference game that went only five innings.

“You have to give Munster a lot of credit for the way they hit the ball today,” Hobart coach Katrina Lucas said. “They were hitting the ball so well. They’re a good hitting (team). It seems like every time we play them they hit really well.”

In two meetings with the Mustangs this season, Hobart has been outscored 23-0.

“The kids are really starting to come around and are hitting the ball pretty well,” Munster coach Beth Thornburg said. “We hit the ball well this weekend (at the Twin Lakes Tournament) against McCutcheon and Andrean. If you can do that against the good teams, it gives you a lot of confidence. Playing good teams and beating good teams is what I like.”

The Mustangs, who won their ninth straight game, scored four runs in the first inning off Sandilla as Kori Kirby and Ally Schweitzer each had run-scoring singles and Kari Dillner cracked a two-run single.

By the time the second inning had ended, the Mustangs had sent 13 batters to the plate, cracked seven hits and scored nine runs -- all unearned after two Hobart errors paved the way.

“It was not one of our best performances, that’s for sure,” Lucas said. “I think she (Sandilla) was getting a little frustrated. It didn’t seem to make any difference what pitch she threw, they’d hit it.”

After the first two innings, Lucas replaced Sandilla with Dana Claussen. She didn’t allow any runs or hits and fanned four.

Munster starting pitcher Carly Murphy went only two innings before giving way to Emily McCullough when her back tightened up.

McCullough (5-1) picked up the win for Munster, allowing five singles and a walk with two strikeouts in three innings.

Angelique Zadrozny, who was hitting .550 entering the game, continued her torrid hitting pace against the Brickies.

The center fielder had two hits, including a triple, drove in two runs and scored twice.

Zadrozny now has 13 hits in her last 18 at-bats -- she went an incredible 11 of 15 at the Twin Lakes Tournament Saturday.

“She’s just crushing the ball,” said Thornburg, whose Mustangs have really picked up the pace offensively the last couple of weeks and are averaging nearly seven runs per outing.

“We still have to shore-up some things defensively. We’re getting some pretty good pitching right now, and we’ve picked up our hitting. I like the way we’re playing right now. We’re playing with a lot more confidence. We’re playing loose and we’re cheering a lot and just having fun in the dugout. If we can continue to do those things, I like our chances.”

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