Six-hit days from
Julianna Acevedo (nine RBIs) and
Jessica Reuter (six RBIs), back-to-back homers from Acevedo and
Melissa Gonzalez in each game, and superb pitching from
McKenzie Johnson and
Claire Stillwell sparked the Triton College softball team to a home doubleheader sweep of McHenry County College on April 21 at Jorndt Athletic Complex.
Both games were shortened by the eight-run rule to 4 ½ innings with Triton scoring in all eight innings in which they batted. Triton collected 33 hits in their Friday romp of the Scots.
The Trojans (31-17) cruised in the opener 13-0, powered by an eight-run third inning with starter Johnson allowing just one hit along with 11 strikeouts. Reuter collected two more doubles among three hits in Game 2 as starter Stillwell (9-8) lost her shutout in the fifth inning while striking out eight in the 12-1 victory.
The starting pitchers had few worries as the late-afternoon shadows began to lengthen. They could relax and enjoy their lineup's spree against the Scots (5-14).
"It's more exciting than exhausting," Stillwell said of craning her neck to watch her hitters spray the ball all over the field and over the fences.
Acevedo and Reuter figured the sweep comprised their best-ever individual performances in softball at any level. But the former did not want to short her slugging partner in claiming credit, either.
"We're a dynamic duo, one hits a homer so the other one does, too. We're a package," she said of Gonzalez. Acevedo has seven homers while Gonzalez boosted her team lead to 10.
In Game 1, Acevedo got the Trojans attack going with a first-inning RBI double off the left field fence. Two innings later, Reuter collected the first of her six hits with a run-scoring single. She would go on to slash three doubles for the day.
Reuter is not picky, often swinging at the first pitch. "Most of the first pitches were right there," said Reuter. "I'm just hoping for contact."
The Triton eight-run outburst, all against Scots starter Peyton Atwater, scored with two out and practically sealed the early victory with Johnson's unhittable pitching.
Isabella Bruno started the splurge with a two-out double. Johnson collected her second single of the game. Reuter then slashed a two-run double to make it 5-0.
Angie Flores doubled to right to score Reuter.
Nikke Burke singled to right to make it 7-0, then stole second.
Meadow Fornuto walked. Then Acevedo launched a three-run homer to left for a 10-0 lead. Gonzalez also homered to left on the very next pitch, knocking out Atwater.
Capping the Game 1 scoring in the fourth was Reuter's third hit, an RBI single, preceding backup
Jocelyn Foss' RBI double to right.
Johnson (10-6) had another stellar strikeout performance. She had five whiffs in the first two innings. She now has 159 strikeouts in 111 2/3 innings.
"I can rely on my offense," said Johnson, who had two singles herself. "To do what they did was great. It just makes me feel comfortable, out there having that run support."
Acevedo and Gonzalez waited little time to strike again in Game 2. After Reuter slashed a one-out double in the first off Scots starter Kellie Seiler, Acevedo slugged a two-run homer to right center. Gonzalez then connected for her second homer to make it 3-0. Another run tallied on an error.
In the second, Burke bunted for a hit, and then raced around to score on three-base throwing error by the pitcher. Reuter collected another double, scoring on Acevedo's double to right center for a 6-0 lead.
Reuter got her sixth and final hit, a two-run single to center in the third, making it 9-0, just before Acevedo got her fifth hit, a single.
Briana Rivera had an RBI single in the fourth before Acevedo completed her big day with a two-run double for the final Trojans runs.
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(Story by tritonathletics.com contributor George Castle)
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