(Sugar Grove, IL.) – After playing through numerous cold and overcast days early in the season Waubonsee Community College and Triton College squared off Sunday afternoon in summer-like conditions. Under sunny skies and nearly 80 degrees the Chiefs (7-13) jumped out to an early lead and surprised the Trojans (18-6) to take the opener 7-2 behind the pitching of Julia Hupp and the hitting of Emily Hurst. Game two was the exact opposite as Triton took an early lead and never looked back to earn a split of their non-conference doubleheader with a 6-4 decision.
After Waubonsee starter Hupp set down the Trojans in order to start game one, Morgan Smardo led off the botton of the first with a line shot double to right center. Katie Baker followed with a perfect bunt down the third base line for an infield hit. Hurst then launched a towering three-run homer to straight away center field, her seventh round-tripper of the season, to quickly put Waubonsee in front. The Trojans got one of those runs back in the top of the second when Briana Rivera doubled off the left field fence and scored on a two-out single by Brianna Gallegos past a diving Valerie Osthoff. The Chiefs got that run back in the bottom of the second when Dyani Rivera ripped a one-out single to left field. Waubonsee's fleet-footed catcher then stole second before Smardo drew a two-out walk. Baker then knocked in Rivera with a ground ball single through the right side to make it 4-1.
Triton ace McKenzie Johnson, who entered the day with an 8-2 record, 116 strikeouts, and the sixth best earned-run-average (ERA) in the nation among NJCAA Division II pitchers at 1.17, began to settle in. Meanwhile, Hupp kept the Trojans offense in check through four innings with several excellent drop balls and changeups before Triton cut the deficit to two runs in the top of the fifth. A double to left field by Nikki Burke and a Chiefs' throwing error allowed her to score the Trojans second run. Waubonsee looked to answer back in their half of the fifth as Hurst drew a one-out walk and Perkins followed with her third line shot single to left of the game. A passed ball moved the runners up to second and third, and Morgan Iwanski promptly drove in Waubonsee's fifth run with a single to right field.
Triton's Rivera led off the sixth inning with a double to left center, sliding under the tag of Baker for the two-bagger. But Hupp got a key strikeout of Gallegos on a change-up for the second out and then induced a fly out to strand Rivera at third base. Waubonsee looked to add an insurance run in the bottom half of the frame. Waubonsee's Rivera rocketed a one-hopper off Johnson's leg for an infield hit. After a sacrifice bunt by Ariana Ikis, Smardo reached base on a when the throw pulled the Trojans' first baseman off the bag. Baker grounded out to second base moving the runners up to second and third. Hurst then stepped to the plate and drilled a two-out, two-strike pitch down the left field line for a two-run double, her 30th two-bagger of her collegiate career, to give the Chiefs a 7-2 cushion.
Triton got a pair of runners on base to start the top of the seventh, but they were left there when Osthoff dove to her left to snag a liner for the final out. Hupp scattered five hits, struck out four, walked two and allowed just one earned run in picking up her second win of the season in the circle. Hurst finished the game 2 for 3 with a walk and five runs batted, while Perkins went 3 for 4. Smardo, Baker and Rivera all booked two hits apiece as Waubonsee tallied a dozen hits off Johnson, the first time she has surrendered double digits hits all season. Johnson took the loss giving up six earned runs, twice as many as her prior worst outing of the spring, to increase her ERA nearly half a run to 1.65 for the season.
Game two Burke smacked the second pitch of the contest into right center field for a double. After a walk and stolen base Alyssa Bruno slapped a single up the middle to score two runs and this time give Triton the early lead. A Chiefs' error, a passed ball, wild pitch and another error plated two more runs before Waubonsee could even register an out. Smardo, starting in the circle for the fifth time this spring, then worked out of the jam getting a double play to end the inning. Triton's other top hurler Sophia Schmeglar, who entered the day with a sparkling 2.08 ERA and an unblemished 7-0 record, set down the Chiefs in order in the first and second innings. Triton added on to their lead in the top of the third when Bruno led off with a double and scored on another Waubonsee error to give the visitors a 5-0 lead. The Chiefs got their first base runner in the bottom half of the inning when Osthoff walked, stole second and moved to third on a passed ball. But Schmeglar stranded her there by getting a strikeout and pop out to preserve the Trojans' five run lead.
The Chiefs got their first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth when Baker led off with a line drive single to right center field. Waubonsee then got on the board as Hurst fouled off four full-count pitches before drilling an opposite field, no doubt two-run homer. The 30th home run and 99th and 100th runs batted in of her Waubonsee career cut the deficit to three. Triton got the leadoff batter on base in the top of the fifth, but Waubonsee's defense squelched that opportunity by recording its third double play of the contest. However, Schmeglar kept the momentum in the Trojans' dugout by striking out the side in the bottom of the fifth. After a leadoff double by Triton's Amelia Rieger the Chiefs' defense again faltered. Waubonsee's fifth error of the game allowed Rieger to score before a pop fly fell between three Waubonsee defenders. Smardo, who deserved a better fate, struck out the next two Trojan hitters and got a tap back to her to escape any further damage.
Trailing 6-2 the Chiefs looked to mount a rally in the bottom of the sixth as Smardo led off with a line shot single up the middle. Hurst then ripped a one-out line drive to third that handcuffed Rieger for an error putting runners at first and second. A wild pitch moved the runners up before Perkins delivered a deep fly ball to the base of the left field fence for a two-run double to make it 6-4. With the potential tying run at the plate Schmeglar recorded her seventh strikeout and induced a pop out to end the threat.
Triton looked to add an insurance run or two in the top of the seventh, but Smardo stranded a pair of runners. Osthoff then led off the bottom half of the inning getting hit by a pitch to bring the potential tying run to the plate. But Schmeglar got two strikeouts and a groundout to end the game. Waubonsee managed just five hits in game two with Hurst leading the way by going 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Smardo took the loss allowing just three earned runs over seven innings pitched. Schmeglar improved to 8-0 by striking out nine, walking just one, and allowing three earned runs in the complete game win. The Chiefs are in action again tomorrow, Monday, April 15, when they host Morton College in an Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference twin bill starting at 3:00 p.m.
