NCHS shut down by Mattoon in softball

Monday, May 12, 2008

By Pantagraph staff

The Ironmen were held to two hits as they dropped their first Big 12 Conference game of the season in Normal. Mattoon finished with a 3-0 win.

Megan Nonnemacher (14-1) took her first loss as she allowed four hits with 10 strikeouts and four walks. Lauren Kao smacked a double for NCHS (23-2, 10-1).

“Mattoon’s a good team,” NCHS coach Bob Grimes said. “It was just one of those games where we hit the ball and it didn’t get where we wanted it.”

 

 

 

From the JG-TC Times paper:

Sixth inning leads to Lady Wave victory

By JG/T-C Staff
sports@jg-tc.com

NORMAL -- Mattoon scored all three of its runs in the sixth inning and with two outs as the Lady Wave handed Normal its first Big 12 Conference loss Monday, 3-0.  Reynae Hutchinson pitched a two-hit shut out with seven strikeouts and three walks.  Mattoon left the bases loaded in the third and left runners on in the first and fourth inning, but they were not to be denied in the sixth inning as the batters faced the opposing pitcher for the third time.  “It was the third time through the lineup,” said Mattoon coach Dave McDowell.  Lydia Hligenberg singled in the sixth and Aubrey Franks followed with a single and all of this with two outs. Jessica Nichols doubled, scoring Hilgenberg and Bailiegh Basham followed with a two-run double, scoring Franks and Nichols.  “Jessica Nichols hustled and did a nice job,” said McDowell.

Normal fell to 23-2 overall and 10-1 in the conference.  “We had a big game that we lost to Bloomington (4-3 in 10 innings) and I talked about how important it was to come back strong and we did and won the second game (8-2). We had a game where we were ahead 3-0 and just had a string of bad luck and errors. This time we had no errors and that makes the difference and shows the capability we have.”  McDowell was set to have Hutchinson pitch to the first nine batters.  “I wanted to see how Hutchinson would do against the first nine batters,” said McDowell. “Aubrey Frank had pitched 12 innings Saturday. “She was dong well so, I said, ‘well, lets’ go through lineup again. Her two-hit shutout is a real boost of confidence to her and to the team. We don’t have to go with one pitcher. We have two rock solid pitchers that are phenomenal. This win gets us back in the saddle again.  Normal still has to play Normal West and Bloomington this week.  Mattoon, 22-5 overall and 9-2 in the conference, is to play host to Champaign Centennial today on Senior Day at the Roundhouse Complex.