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Redhawks edge out West Aurora
Updated: May 4, 2011 11:14PM
In the past eight days, the Naperville Central softball team has beaten West Aurora twice by a total of two runs.
The first time was a 1-0 decision April 26, and the second was a 2-1 win for the Redhawks on Wednesday in Naperville in DuPage Valley Conference action.
“We are getting good pitching, we are playing good defense and — I’m not going to complain — a win is a win,” Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said. “Whether it be by one or three or five. We are just glad to get a win.”
The Blackhawks (4-16, 0-8), who began their second round of DVC action against the Redhawks, have lost four conference games by one run.
“We had base runners on, but couldn’t get that one clutch hit to push a run through,” West Aurora coach Sara Nagy said. “That’s pretty typical of our season. We get them on, but we can’t get them in. We have some seniors, but we are young. They’ve learned a lot this year, and I’m very proud of them.”
“They are going to beat someone the second time around,” Nussbaum added on the Blackhawks. “I’m glad we don’t have to play them in the regular season again. They are a good team.”
The Blackhawks scored first in the first when leadoff batter Alyssa Reimers reached base on an error. She moved to second on a Christina Hunger sacrifice bunt and scored on Franny Evischi’s RBI single.
The Redhawks (15-4, 6-1) remained scoreless until the fourth, when Maddi Doane hit a one-out double. Katie Walker’s RBI double tied the game, and pinch runner Kayla Skinner moved to third on a wild pitch.
With two outs, Nussbaum called in pinch-hitter Laura Dierking. She then rewarded his decision with an RBI single that allowed Skinner to score. This was Dierking’s first game-winning hit of the season.
“Laura hits well against this kind of pitcher’s speed,” Nussbaum said. “I was just hoping it would go through. Two-out hits are huge. That was a big, big hit for us at a good time. She didn’t play Monday, she didn’t play Tuesday, and she had no idea she was going to bat.”
“I had no idea the opportunity was going to come, but I’m glad it did,” Dierking added. “We are just glad to beat them again.”
Against West Aurora the first time, Naperville Central pitcher Alyssa Wunderlich (8-3) allowed just a single hit. The second time, she allowed two, along with seven strikeouts and two walks. Evischi, West Aurora’s pitcher, gave up seven hits, six strikeouts and three walks.
“She was fantastic today,” Nagy said. “To keep a high-quality batting team (like Naperville Central) to just two runs was fantastic.”
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