In the final CSL South matchup of the year, the Evanston Wildkits defeated the Waukegan Bulldogs 9-0 behind a complete game shutout with 13 strikeouts from Allie Managlia.
Emily Mathyer led the offensive attack. She was 4-for-4 with three extra base hits.
The first inning was scoreless for both teams. In the top of the second inning, after one out, Mathyer doubled off the centerfield wall and was driven in on a single by Caitlin Boer. Managlia struck out the side in the bottom of the second.
The game was scoreless for the next two innings despite another hit from Mathyer and a single by Waukegan’s Araceli Cruz.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Kits got down to two out and two strikes on batter Caroline Duke. Duke took the next pitch deep over the left field fence to give the Kits a 2-0 lead.
The team fed on her momentum as Emma Maxwell singled, Allie Noetz singled, and Maddie Reiches singled to bring in a run.
Mathyer then tripled off the top of the right field fence to give the Kits a 5-0 lead on a huge two-out rally.
In the bottom of the fifth, Managlia struck out two before Duke made a fantastic play at shortstop to end the inning. The offense was quiet again until the top of the seventh.
Maxwell led the top of the seventh with a line drive to left field. After a walk, Reiches doubled to left center to bring in a run. Mathyer then doubled once again to bring in two more runs. Before the inning was over, Jenna Ehrensaft brought in the final run.
In the bottom of the seventh, Hannah Thompson doubled to start the Bulldogs’ inning. Managlia struck out e next batter.
Cruz then hit the ball all the way to the left field fence, but left fielder Jackie Kretchmer found her way to the fence,caught the ball, and got it back in to keep the runner from advancing and preserve the shutout. A groundout to Managlia ended the game.