Loveland, Sikich, Bienema power Janesville Craig's return to win column vs. Sun Prairie West

After its first loss in 10 tries Tuesday against Middleton, Janesville Craig’s softball team bounced back in an emphatic way Wednesday at Sun Prairie West.

Ella Loveland had five RBI to lead an explosive Cougars offense to beat the Wolves 17-3 in six innings.

Brynn Sikich, Mya Eichelt and Bailey Bienema also drove in multiple runs, and Sikich scored four times during her 3-for-3 day.

Loveland went 2 for 4 with a home run and a triple.

“They came out tonight ready to hit,” Cougars coach Kristen Worm said of her team. “Our balanced attack came through again. ... We have so many people getting the job done.”

Bienema pitched the complete-game victory and kept Natalie Sozio and University of Pittsburgh recruit Luci Moreno in check. Sozio went 0 for 3 and while Moreno had three hits, two were singles and she drove in just one run.

Craig and West were scheduled to play Thursday, but the sides moved the game to Wednesday to beat the rainy weather forecasted to move through the area Thursday. That means the Cougars’ next game is Friday at the Janesville Youth Sports Complex against rival Janesville Parker.

The Vikings beat the Cougars 15-9 in the first meeting of the season between the teams, though Craig tried to make that game interesting at the end with a late offensive rally.

“It doesn’t really matter how anybody is doing the rest of the season,” Worm said. “When it’s the Craig-Parker game, literally anything can happen.”

JANESVILLE CRAIG 17, SUN PRAIRIE WEST 3 (6)

Craig 410 318 — 17 11 1

West 002 010 — 3 7 4

Leading hitters — Schaffner (JC) 2x4, Sikich (JC) 3x3, Eichelt (JC) 2x2, Loveland (JC) 2x4, Moreno (SPW) 3x3. 2B — Schaffner (JC), Moreno (SPW). 3B — Loveland (JC). HR — Loveland (JC).

Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) — JC: Bienema W, 6-7-3-2-2-2. SPW: Rhoads L, 3 1/3-5-8-7-8-3; Robinson 1 1/3-2-3-0-3-1; Davis 1 1/3-4-6-1-0-0.