Downers Grove North coach Emily Mollet figured her game with Benet would be a classic pitching duel.
One of her top pitchers, Ryan Falk, was to face Benet’s No. 1 hurler, Ellie Blake.
Fifteen innings later, Downers North (7-2) escaped with a 1-0 victory in the first game of the Downers Grove North round-robin tournament when Lauren Cuchna’s two-out single drove home Mary McGrane.
Both pitchers went the distance. Falk gave up eight hits and improved her record to 6-0.
“Both teams wouldn’t give up,” said Mollet. “Benet was still playing a strong ballgame. They got a few people on base, but they couldn’t get them in there either. It was really fun.”
Stagg 3, Reavis 0: Melissa Cozzi (5-0) allowed one hit and struck out five and Alison Booth, Abby Booth (RBI) and Rachel Gensch (RBI) each had three hits as the top-ranked Chargers (10-0) edged Reavis for their sixth shutout. Cozzi, who has given up one run in 37 innings and has an 0.17 earned-run average, helped her own cause with an RBI double.
Lockport 13, Rich East 1: Ginny Georgantas earned the victory and hit two consecutive homers–a two-run shot in the second and a three-run blast in the fourth–as No. 3 Lockport (7-0) rolled in five innings.
Mundelein 7, McHenry 2: Marsha Letto drove in three runs and Jill Wollberg drove in two for the sixth-ranked Mustangs (4-1). Katie Prezell earned the victory, striking out eight.
Morris 17, Oswego 3: Kim Mackinson struck out eight and Stefanie Steele (3 for 4) drove in two runs for No. 8 Morris (8-1, 4-0 Suburban Prairie).
St. Ignatius 11, Notre Dame 4: Bridget Meade had three hits and an RBI to lead St. Ignatius (9-2) past the Dynamics (4-7).
St. Benedict 15, Chicago Latin 13: Erica Rodgiguez went 4 for 5 and drove in three runs for St. Benedict (3-8).
Nazareth 5, Lyons Township 1: Erin Doonan drove in one run and Elizabeth Lareau (5-6) struck out five for Nazareth (6-7).
Loyola 7, Queen of Peace 0: Maral Binnebose went the distance, allowing two hits while striking out nine, en route to her fifth straight victory for Loyola (6-4, 3-0 GCAC Red).
Fenwick 7, Maria 1: Ashley Ballard (3-0) allowed just two hits while striking out seven and helped her own cause with three hits and an RBI for Fenwick (6-1).
St. Francis de Sales 15, St. Scholastica 5: Roberta Hooper (three RBIs) and Jamie Rose (two RBIs) each had two hits for St. Francis de Sales (12-6).
West Chicago 10, Bolingbrook 0: Winning pitcher Tracy Morris went 2 for 2 with two RBIs in the five-inning victory for West Chicago (2-0).
Leyden 2, Maine South 1: Junior Bianca Rocha threw a no-hitter for Leyden (9-0), striking out six and walking four to improve her record to 8-0.
Resurrection 3, Mt. Assisi 2: Katie McGrath (2 for 3) drove in two runs and Christine Baran (3-6) earned the win for Resurrection (4-9, 3-3) in the GCAC Red.
Driscoll 14, Montini 0: Maryann Stephens allowed one hit and fanned 10 while over five innings and Shannon Mores knocked in two runs with a double and a triple as Driscoll (5-6, 3-0) rolled in the Suburban Catholic.
Downers Grove South 9, Sandburg 8: Karen Gagala doubled twice, scored twice and drove in three runs for Downers South (6-2).
Libertyville 17, St. Viator 2: Susan Nice delivered a bases-loaded triple as Libertyville (5-1) took the matchup in five innings.
Elk Grove 10, Rolling Meadows 0: Colleen Ryan (3-1) scattered five hits for the shutout and Linsey Farroh scored twice for Elk Grove (4-2, 2-1) in the Mid-Suburban South.
Mother Guerin 8, Regina 2: Natalie Gillett doubled in three runs and Natalie Pavone struck out seven for Mother Guerin (6-3, 2-0) in the GCAC White.
Warren 6, Round Lake 0: Brianne Fisher (4-0) fanned eight and Amy VanCamp went 3 for 4 with two RBIs for Warren (5-0).
Good Counsel 8, Ridgewood 4: Kim Walker (8-0) fanned 13 as Good Counsel (9-1) rolled.
Richards 5, Lincoln-Way 2: Carole Gorecki fanned six and allowed two hits for Richards (5-2).
Hoffman Estates 4, Prospect 2: Kim Giagnrio singled in Shannon Bree with the winning run in the top of the eighth to give Hoffman Estates (4-2, 2-2) the Mid-Suburban South victory.
Barrington 7, Wheeling 3: Randi Freese threw a nine-strikeout shutout and Michele Giovannelli went 3 for 4 with an double and an RBI for Barrington (9-2, 3-0) in the Mid-Suburban North.
Crete-Monee 11, Marian Catholic 3: Leah Santori (three RBIs) hit a two-run homer for the Warriors (9-1) in the non-conference contest.
Buffalo Grove 7, Palatine 0: Meghan Kuebler picked up the victory, allowing two hits and also had two doubles for the Bison in the Mid-Sububan North.
