The Benedictine University softball team (13-4) took a break from Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play on Thursday, as the team opposed Elmhurst College (12-6) in a doubleheader at Chicago Bandits Stadium in Rosemont, Illinois. BenU downed the Bluejays 6-2 in game one and 6-5 in eight innings in game two, extending the winning streak to nine games.

Game One

Sarah Koch provided BenU starter Holly Haberkorn (win, seven innings, two earned runs, nine hits, three walks, one strikeout) with a nice cushion in the top of the first inning, hitting a three-run homer after Shannon Fritsche tripled and Chelsea White reached on an error. An inning later, Fritsche would double with two outs to drive in Kelsey Jefferies, putting the Eagles up 4-0.

The offense would continue in support of Haberkorn in the fourth, as White singled with bases loaded and one out in the fifth to drive in Kelli Holstine. However, the Eagles would leave the bases loaded, giving Elmhurst some momentum. The Bluejays capitalized in the bottom of the sixth, finally getting to Haberkorn for two runs.

Elmhurst's comeback would prove to be too little too late, as Haberkorn herself drove in Kailee Cable in the top of the seventh to build the lead back up to four. The Bluejays would have two runners reach base in the bottom of the inning, but a flyout with runners on first and third with two outs ended the contest.

At the plate, Koch and Fritsche each talled two hits and combined for four RBI. White, Cable (triple), Haberkorn, Jenna Boyajian, and Miranda Hiemer each added a hit a piece, as BenU tallied nine for the game.

Game Two

Fristche began the game's scoring with an RBI single in the top of the third, but the Eagles would have to come from behind in game two. In the bottom of the third, Elmhurst plated five runs off BenU starter Melissa Guzior (2.2 innings, five earned runs, seven hits, one walk) to take a four run lead.

After Guzior, Eryn Pondo (win, 5.1 innings, no runs, one hit, one walk) entered to stifle the Bluejay offense and allow the Eagles to mount a comeback. An Alex Daviera pinch-hit double with two outs in the fourth cut the Elmhurst lead to two. In the next inning, Haberkorn singled to drive in a run, bringing the score to 5-4.

Benedictine failed to score in the sixth and found themselves down with one out remaining in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Cable on third after doubling earlier in the inning, and pinch-runner Liz Jimenez on first, Courtney Grasz hit a sacrafice fly to right field to score Cable. However, the catcher would throw Jimenez out at second after the play at the plate, leaving the score a 5-5 after the half-inning.

After managing just one hit off of Pondo through her first 3.1 innings, Elmhurst threatened in the bottom of the seventh. With runners on first and third and two outs, Pondo escaped the jam with a flyout to Boyajian in left field.

In the eighth, a Jefferies double to centerfield started the inning off. Two hitters later, she would score on a wild pitch to give BenU the 6-5 lead. Pondo allowed just one baserunner on an error in the bottom of the eighth to seal the win.

BenU smacked six doubles in the contest, as Grasz, Koch, Cable, Jefferies, Boyajian, and Daviera all recorded two-base hits. The Eagles recorded 11 total hits in the game and made use of four sacrafice hits.

Conference play resumes for BenU on Satuday, as the Eagles will host Marian University at noon at the Village of Lisle/Benedictine University Sports Complex. Live audio, video, and statistics will be available at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/benu/.