Chargers Swept by Cavaliers in Region IV Quarterfinals

KANKAKEE — The Carl Sandburg College softball team stood tall against second-seeded Kankakee, but the Chargers were swept by the Cavaliers in their best-of-three Region IV Division II District B quarterfinal series Tuesday.

The seventh-seeded Chargers finish their season with a 15-29 overall record while Kankakee advances to the region finals to be played Saturday and Sunday at Highland.

GAME 1
Kankakee 9, Sandburg 2
Sandburg         100      001      0          —        2          6          3
Kankakee        000      072      x          —        9          10        1
L: Brooklyn Walker 6 IP, 4 K, 3 BB

Key Moment
Sandburg held a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth before the Cavaliers, among others receiving votes in the latest NJCAA rankings, broke through for seven runs. Kankakee had just two hits entering the fifth before striking for five in the decisive frame. The Cavaliers also took advantage of a walk and a Sandburg error.

Sandburg Standout
Natalie Righi (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) swatted a two-out solo home run in the first to give the Chargers an early lead. The longball was Righi's fourth of the season, tying her for second on the team.

Other Top Chargers
• Maddi Benson (Spring Bay, Ill./Metamora): 2 for 3, double, RBI

GAME 2
Kankakee 3, Sandburg 2
Sandburg         101      000      0          —        2          7          2
Kankakee        020      000      1          —        3          6          2
L: Chelsey Catton 6+ IP, 4 K, 3 BB

Key Moments
• Sandburg staged a two-out rally in the third to tie the game at 2-2. Righi drew a walk on a full count and moved to third as Benson's popup to right field was misplayed. That brought up Kayla Wolf (Chillicothe, Ill./Illinois Valley Central), who came through with a base hit to left to even the score.
• It remained 2-2 until Kankakee's Bailey Nay led off the bottom of the seventh with a homer to center on a 3-2 pitch to give the Cavaliers a walk-off victory and the series.

Sandburg Standout
Wolf drove in both Chargers runs and finished with three singles in four at-bats.

Other Top Chargers
• Benson: 2 for 4, double
• Righi: Two walks, two runs

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