Hunter’s HR, 12 Ks lift Chargers in weekend finale at Sauk Valley

DIXON — Ailexa Hunter fanned a dozen and homered in Game 2 on Sunday as the Carl Sandburg College softball team wrapped up a six-game weekend that featured a home-and-home series with Sauk Valley sandwiched around a doubleheader against Lake County.

FRIDAY
Game 1
Sauk Valley 13, Sandburg 7
Sauk Valley      100      244      2          —        13        11        0
Sandburg         102      200      2          —        7          15        1
L: Mary Hellige 7 IP, 6 K, 2 BB

KEY MOMENT
The Chargers led 5-3 going into the fifth, but the Skyhawks scored four runs in each of the next two innings to grab the lead and pull away.

SANDBURG STANDOUT
Maleaha Nagel finished a triple shy of the cycle, going 3 for 4 with a run scored and four RBIs. The sophomore first baseman had an RBI double in the first, added an RBI infield hit in the third and popped a two-run homer in the seventh.

OTHER TOP CHARGERS
• Elly Bentley: 2 for 4, triple, run, two RBIs
• Ailexa Hunter: 2 for 4, double, two runs, RBI
• Kaitlyn Egenes: 2 for 4
• Alexis Brammeier: 2 for 3, run

Game 2
Sauk Valley 15, Sandburg 6
Sauk Valley      003      206      4          —        15        16        0
Sandburg         011      310      0          —        6          13        0
L: Hunter 7 IP, 11 K, 3 BB

KEY MOMENTS
Sandburg again took a lead into the late innings, this time going ahead 6-5 in the fifth on an Egenes sacrifice fly, but Sauk Valley scored 10 runs in the final two frames.

SANDBURG STANDOUT
Despite taking the loss, Ailexa Hunter whiffed a season-high 11 batters while walking just three. Hunter also went 2 for 4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.

OTHER TOP CHARGERS
• Egenes: 2 for 3, double, two runs, RBI
• Nagel: 2 for 3, walk
• Olivia Lewis: 2 for 4, two doubles, run, two RBIs
• Madeline Mooney: 2 for 3, two runs

SATURDAY
Game 1
Lake County 12, Sandburg 3 (5 innings)
Lake County    012      90        —        12        16        0
Sandburg         101      01        —        3          8          2
L: Hellige 5 IP, 2 K, 2 BB

KEY MOMENT
The Chargers got within a run in the third when Hunter doubled in Mooney to make it a 3-2 game, but the Lancers put up a nine spot in the fourth inning.

SANDBURG STANDOUT
Hunter was a perfect 3 for 3 at the dish, including two doubles and her third-inning RBI.

Game 2
Lake County 2, Sandburg 0
Lake County    000      101      0          —        2          3          1
Sandburg         000      000      0          —        0          5          1
L: Hunter 7 IP, 9 K, 2 BB

KEY MOMENT
Following a leadoff walk, a two-out RBI single in the fourth gave the Lancers all the cushion they'd need while shutting out the Chargers on five hits.

SANDBURG STANDOUT
Hunter took the tough-luck loss while giving up just three hits and two walks on the day. She fanned nine in going the distance. Hunter also went 1 for 2 with a base on balls at the plate. 

SUNDAY
Game 1
Sauk Valley 8, Sandburg 4
Sandburg         000      112      0          —        4          11        3
Sauk Valley      111      203      x          —        8          9          2
L: Hellige 6 IP, 4 K, 1 BB

KEY MOMENT
Down 5-1 in the fifth, Olivia Lewis singled in a run, and Bailey Ryan's two-run double in the top of the sixth made it a 5-4 game. But the Skyhawks answered with three in the bottom of the sixth to hang on for the victory.

SANDBURG STANDOUT
Bentley scored twice out of the leadoff spot, going 1 for 3 with a walk.

OTHER TOP CHARGERS
• Ryan: Double, two RBIs
• Hunter: 2 for 4, run
• Brammeier: 2 for 4

Game 2
Sandburg 5, Sauk Valley 3
Sandburg         000      300      2          —        5          8          1
Sauk Valley      200      100      0          —        3          11        1
W: Hunter 7 IP, 12 K, 0 BB

KEY MOMENT
Tied at 3 in the seventh, back-to-back singles by Bentley and Ryan put runners at the corners with one out. After Hunter popped out, Bentley scored on a double steal to put the Chargers ahead. Ryan added an insurance run when she moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball.

SANDBURG STANDOUT
Hunter got the victory in the circle as she pitched a complete game with a season-high 12 strikeouts against zero walks. She gave up three runs while scattering 10 hits. Hunter also helped herself at the plate, connecting for a leadoff homer in the fourth to get the Chargers on the board.

OTHER TOP CHARGERS
• Bentley: 2 for 4, run
• Egenes: Solo home run
• Ava Ruggles: Solo home run

UP NEXT
3 p.m. Monday vs. Joliet 

Get text/email notifications of Sandburg Athletics results
Follow @SandburgNJCAA on Twitter
Like @sandburgchargers on Facebook
Follow @sandburgchargers on Instagram