Twice Madison Memorial overtook Janesville Craig in the late innings of Thursday’s Big Eight Conference softball game in Madison.
Both times, the Cougars fought back, including with a game-tying run in the seventh to force an extra inning, and eventually beat the Spartans 11-9 in the eighth.
Craig led 4-0 through four, but Memorial took the lead with a five-spot in the fifth. The Cougars retook the lead in the top of the sixth with four runs, but the Spartans also got four in the bottom half of the inning to make it 9-8.
“We got sloppy in the fifth and let Memorial come back and take the lead,” Craig coach Kristen Worm said. “It was a battle the rest of the way.”
A couple of standout freshmen for the Cougars tied the game up in the seventh. Abbie Claas started the frame with a walk, then Ava Schaffner singled to right field with one out.
Claas was able to score the tying run all the way from first, and Schaffner scooted to second on the throw back to the infield.
“One of the things I love about this team is that there are so many contributors,” Craig coach Kristen Worm said. “They all come together to get the win. I said from the beginning this was a special group — they have proven it over and over.”
The Spartans got out of the inning with a double play, but Craig’s momentum continued into the eighth.
With one out and two on in front of her, Ella Loveland hit a ground ball up the middle to score Bella Vitaioli and Bailey Bienema, giving their team the lead for good.
Bienema bookended the game in the circle, throwing a total of 6 2/3 innings (unlike baseball, pitchers can leave and reenter the circle multiple times in a game) and giving up just one hit.
Up next for the Cougars is a postseason game against Elkhorn at the Janesville Youth Sports Complex on Tuesday.
“Hustle and heart really do make a difference,” Worm said. “In a game like tonight, it can be the deciding factor. I will put our team’s hustle and heart up against anyone, and I know they will make us proud.”
JANESVILLE CRAIG 11, MADISON MEMORIAL 9
Craig 011 204 12 — 11 12 3
Memorial 000 054 00 — 9 7 7
Leading hitters — Sikich (JC) 2x5, Vitaioli (JC) 2x4, Bienema (JC) 2x5, Loveland (JC) 3x4, Konrad (MM) 2x5. 2B — Bienema (JC), Sikich (JC), Capuano (MM).
Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-k) — JC: Bienema W, 6 2/3-1-2-0-2-3; Schieve 1-4-6-0-2-0; Klemencic 1/3-2-1-1-0-0. MM: Longoria 6-7-7-3-3-3; Hammersley L, 2-5-4-1-1-1.
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