In a CSL south softball matchup that was scoreless into the fifth, the Evanston Wildkits came away with the win, riding the pitching performance of junior Allie Managlia.
In the first inning the Kits’ Allie Managlia fielded a spinning ground ball and threw to Caitlin Bowr. Niles West’s Katie McDonagh singled to right field, but Managlia came back and struck out the next batter. Second baseman Izzy Bergman fielded a hard ground ball and threw the runner out at first to end the inning.
The Kits were scoreless in the bottom of the first.
In the top of the second, third baseman Maddie Reiches made a diving catch to start the inning. West’s Alyssa Brummitt then tripled to the right field corner. Allie Managlia remained tough and kept the runner at third as she struck out the next two batters.
The Kits were again scoreless in the bottom of the second despite a hit to right field from Emily Mathyer.
The top of the third started with a Managlia strike-out. Managlia then fielded a ground ball and threw to first for the out. McDonagh then had her second single of the game to right field. Shortstop Caroline Duke fielded a likely hit up the middle and threw to first to get the runner by a step and end the inning.
The Kits were once again scoreless in the bottom of the third.
In the top of the fourth, Maddie Reiches caught a line drive at third for the first out. Reiches then fielded a one hopper and threw to first for the second out and Managlia struck out the final batter.
Allie Nortz started the bottom of the fourth with a single up the middle, but the Kits were scoreless.
The top of the fifth started with Lindsay Aybar hitting a deep fly ball, but Nortz tracked it down for the out. The next two batters made outs to Caitlin Boer at first.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Kits scored their two runs of the game. After one out, pitcher Allie Managlia helped herself by singling to left field and starting the rally. Jenna Ehrensaft then worked a walk to put runners on first and second.
After a strikeout, sophomore Caitlin Boer came through with a hard ground ball hit that rolled all the way to the right/center field fence. Managlia scored from second, and Ehrensaft hustled as hard as she could to score all the way from first base.
After an out in the top of the sixth, the Wolves reached first and second base on consecutive hits. The Wolves’ cleanup hitter hit a hard shot to third base, but Maddie Reiches fielded it, and cut down the lead runner. The next batter hit a hard shot toward left, but Caroline Duke fielded it cleanly and fired to first to end the inning.
Freshman Emma Maxwell singled in the seventh, but the Kits did not add to the run total.
The bottom of the seventh started with a strikeout. The Kits then committed their only error of the game when the fielder couldn’t quite get a grip on the ball and the runner beat out the throw.
Caitlin Boer fielded a hard ground ball and stepped on first. With a runner on second, Caroline Duke fielded a ground ball and threw to first to seal the victory and give the Kits their first conference win.