Clover softball finally pulls through in close win over Northwestern
The Clover Blue Eagles have lost some close games early in the season, but Monday night at Northwestern they broke through with a narrow victory in a tough place to get one.
Missy Mavrogian had an RBI base hit and a sliding catch in right field to help the Blue Eagles defeat the Trojans 2-1. Blake Wallert had a solo home run for Clover and Elizabeth Edmunds pitched a complete game to get the win. She only allowed one run on five hits while striking out four with three walks.
"We have struggled some early on this year, losing some close games," Clover coach Shea Hall said. "I think I saw a different team tonight with us. Elizabeth gutted it out and that's what you expect from a senior."
Cassie Wancheck led off the Northwestern first inning with a walk but Mavrogian stretched out in right to rob Kori Wancheck of a base hit.
The Trojans threatened in the second as Edmunds walked the first two batters. She settled down to strike out one and shortstop Marisa Harkey made two nice plays to get the Blue Eagles out of the inning.
Wallert took Kori Wancheck deep to left in the third for the homer and a 1-0 Clover lead.
Mavrogian had a sharp single back up the middle in the fourth to make it 2-0 Blue Eagles.
"That was a big hit for her with two outs and she made some great plays in right," Hall said. "I'm happy for her that she had a good game."
Northwestern got their first base hit in the fourth when Daina Chase singled up the middle with one out. Tiana Lewter followed with a bunt base hit and Bre Chambers singled to center to load the bases. Lorna Day's bunt plated Chase to make it 2-1, but Edmunds induced another grounder to Harkey to end the threat with minimal damage.
The Trojans had another chance in the fifth but Harkey made another play. Cassie Wancheck led off with a double to left, but she tried to go to third on her sister's grounder to short and Harkey nailed her for the first out of the inning. Cassie got another base hit with two outs in the seventh, but Kori lined out to third to end the game.
Wallert and Mavrogian were both 2-for-3 for Clover. Cassie Wancheck reached base three times for Northwestern and Day had the only RBI. Kori Wancheck allowed two runs on seven hits and only walked one with two strikeouts.
Clover 2 Northwestern 1
Clover 0;0;1;1;0;0;0 - 2;7;0
Northwestern 0;0;0;1;0;0;0 - 1;5;0
Elizabeth Edmunds. Kori Wancheck. WP - Edmunds. LP - Wancheck. 2B - Cassie Wancheck (NW). HR - Blake Wallert. Leading hitters - Clover: Wallert 2-3, HR, Missy Mavrogian 2-3, RBI. Northwestern: C. Wancheck 2-3, 2B, BB, Daina Chase 1-2, BB, R, Tiana Lewter 1-2, BB, Lorna Day RBI. Records - Clover 1-3, 1-1 Region 3-4A; Northwestern 5-3, 2-1.
This story was originally published March 16, 2015 at 9:55 PM with the headline "Clover softball finally pulls through in close win over Northwestern."