By THE HERALD-WHIG STAFF
It has to be a big win for a high school softball team to call its male counterparts on the baseball team.
That was the case for the Brown County softball team, which ended a 22-game losing streak to start the season with a 9-8, come-from-behind win over Unity.
"I think they called the baseball team right after we won because they couldn't hold the excitement in," Brown County coach Jenine Seal said. "They may have called every media outlet--newspaper, TV, radio ... I think they called them all."
With none on and two outs in the seventh, Brown County (1-22) received a walk and subsequent single by sophomore Cassie Lipcaman to place two on before scoring on a single by Carol Dunlap to cut the deficit to 8-6.
A Unity error placed the next batter on, and sophomore Danielle Dunn followed with a double to the outfield to score Dunlap. But the ball was misplayed, causing the go-ahead run to score.
"I told them if they wanted this win, they were going to have to dig a little deeper and everybody has to give another inch," Seal said. "I'm just so proud of them right now."
Sophomore starter Kayla Knight (1-9) went the distance, striking out five and walking three. Dunlap finished 3 for 4 with four RBI.
Unity (3-20), which scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead, was led by Lanessa Bohan and Lexi Austin, who both had three hits.
Quincy High School 3, Jacksonville 0: Despite collecting only two hits, the Blue Devils grabbed back-to-back wins for the first time in just under a month with a shutout on the road.
QHS (9-15), which won the second game of a doubleheader Saturday against East Moline, scored one run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to post the win.
One run came off a passed ball, while an error caused two more to score. Mackenzi Fairley (8-10) picked up the win, striking out 11 and walking one.
Quincy Notre Dame 10, Beardstown 3: Three straight triples to start the bottom of the first kickstarted a scoring barrage for the Lady Raiders, who grabbed a key win at The Backyard.
After falling behind 1-0 to start the game, QND (19-6) scored three runs in the first and four more the next three innings to put the game away early.
"This is a good victory over a quality team," QND coach Eric Orne said of the Lady Tigers (17-5). "I was very satisfied with the way we started."
Renita Bunte finished 3 for 4 with two triples for the Lady Raiders, while freshman Danielle Sanders added a double and a triple.
Emily McCaughey (8-4) picked up the win, scattering seven hits while striking out two and walking two.
Pittsfield 2, Jacksonville Routt 1: Consecutive wild pitches helped set up a Kaity Schultz walkoff single, as the Saukees grabbed the win to reach the 20-win plateau on the season.
Tied at 1 in the bottom of the seventh, Pittsfield's Abby Stinson struck out but advanced to first after the third strike went to the backstop. Another wild pitch moved Stinson to second, before Schultz hit the game-winner.
Abby Forshey (10-2) went the distance while striking out eight for the Saukees (20-6), who snapped a two-game losing streak.
Western 7, North Greene 5: By way of a five-run third inning, the Wildcats snapped a 14-game losing skid while collecting their second win of the season.
After the Lady Spartans tied the game at 2 in the top of the third, Western (2-14) scored five runs on four hits to take the lead for good.
Despite committing 10 errors, the Wildcats used a three-hit pitching performance from Marica Fesler to escape with its first victory since an 8-2 win over Brown County on March 21.
Fesler (2-11) struck out five and walked two to earn the win, while a pair of freshmen (Erica Hoskins and Katie Johnson) had two hits apiece.
Pleasant Hill 3, Central-Southeastern 2: The Lady Wolves scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth and ended a threat in the top of the seventh to hold on for the win at home.
After going up 3-1 on a Christina Hannel solo home run and RBI double by sophomore Lauren Dameron in the sixth, Pleasant Hill (4-13) watched as C-SE rallied.
Deandra Bockhold led off the inning with a double to center and eventually scored to cut the deficit to one run for the Lady Panthers (8-16).
But back-to-back singles from Allie Kestner and Maggie Reuschel went for naught, as Pleasant Hill starter Kate Johns got Dawn March to fly out to end the game.
Johns (2-8) earned the win, walking two and scattering seven hits.
Kestner (5-11) took the loss for C-SE, striking out six and allowing two earned runs.
Payson Seymour 3, Macomb 2: The Lady Indians scored three runs the first two innings and never relinquished the lead, taking the win on the road.
A double steal in the first scored the first run for Payson, which added two the next inning on multiple Macomb errors.
Jordan Epperson finished 2 for 3 at the plate for the Lady Indians (16-6), while also picking up the win on the mound. She allowed two runs on three hits in six innings while striking out eight.
Alese Speckhart worked a perfect seventh to earn the save.
Liberty 8, Brussels 1: Rachelle Barry scattered four hits with nine strikeouts to lead the Eagles over the Lady Raiders.
Liberty (11-10) got doubles from Barry and Abby Shover while Meredith Brinkman had two RBI.
West Hancock 4, Illini West 1: The Titans scored four runs in the third to down the Chargers in West Central Conference play.
West Hancock (12-8, 2-2) got a triple from Megan Skarin while Kerbee Koehler struck out six to lead the Titans.
Illini West (19-6, 6-2) had a double from Kaci Ellefritz while Alyssa Swanson struck out four. Christina Bostrom went 2 for 4 from the plate for the Chargers.
PREP SOCCER
Quincy Notre Dame 5, Hannibal 0: Mercedee Esterlein scored four minutes in and added another goal at the 60-minute mark, while Megan Rabe posted her 11th shutout of the season as the Lady Raiders rolled to win on the road.
QND (14-2-2), which outshot the Lady Pirates 24-4, jumped out 2-0 at the intermission.
Sophomore Alex Reis and Kalena Giesing each added a goal and an assist for QND.
