:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/SUGVBEGL34I3IZXGPAAWVA25LI.jpg)
MARENGO – Marengo senior right fielder Veronica Ruelius’ two-run home run against Plainfield Central in the bottom of the sixth inning accounted for the Indians’ eighth home run and 39th run scored in three games of the team’s own tournament on Saturday.
More importantly, the shot to center evened the score against the two-time defending tournament champions after Plainfield Central scored twice in the fifth to break a tie in the title game.
The Indians came back to tie or take the lead on the Wildcats on three separate occasions, but fell behind for good after a two-out, solo home run in the top of the seventh from Plainfield Central’s Hannah Franceschini flew high over the left-field fence.
Plainfield Central held on and defeated Marengo, 7-6, winning the tournament for the third year in a row. Marengo (21-3), which earlier in the day defeated Andrew, 16-9, and Batavia, 17-11, finished 2-1.
“We came back offensively all day today,” said Indians sophomore pitcher Mariah Dionne, who started in the circle against the Wildcats and hit a three-run home run in the first. “Big bats; we were hitting the crap out of the ball, battling back.”
Plainfield Central (18-3) grabbed a 4-3 lead in the top of the third, but Marengo tied the game after an RBI double from Aubrey Wzientek drove in pinch runner Amber Proberts from second. The Wildcats scored twice more in the fifth on three hits and an error to go up 6-4.
The Indians, who entered the tournament with seven shutouts and 33 runs against in 21 games, allowed 27 total runs on Saturday.
“This was a tough day,” Indians coach Dwain Nance said. “We gave up an average of nine runs. That’s not typically how we’ve been. It was a good day in terms of competing, but I thought we made a little too many mistakes out there. We’ll bounce back from us. It’s definitely a good experience."
Dionne (17-2) tossed a total of 14 innings Saturday, earning the opening win against Andrew and suffering her second loss of the season in the championship game. She hit a home run in each of the three games, including two against Andrew. Dionne finished the tournament 7 for 11 with four home runs and 11 RBIs.
The Indians rallied from a run down against Andrew, scoring eight times in the sixth to win their first game. Against Batavia, Marengo grabbed a 10-1 lead after the second and held on for a six-run victory.
“[Plainfield Central] is a really good competitor,” said Ruelius, who went 8 for 11 Saturday with two homers, two doubles and nine RBIs. “They have really good pitching and a really good offense. We were able to stay with them throughout the entire game, and just left it hanging in the last inning.”
Also hitting home runs for Marengo on Saturday were Leah Secor and Allison Jasinski. Secor, who earned the win against Batavia, collected six hits with six runs scored and three RBIs, while Jasinski had six hits, including two doubles, and three RBIs.
Game ball
Mariah Dionne, Marengo, so., P-1B
The sophomore hit a home run in all three games for Marengo on Saturday, finishing 7 for 11 with four home runs and 11 RBIs.
The Number 39:
Runs scored by the Indians, who went 2-1 in three games
The Big Play
After an error allowed Jessica Turner to reach base with two outs, Veronica Ruelius hit a two-run home run to tie Plainfield Central, 6-6, in the sixth inning of the championship game.
Marengo 16, Andrew 9
Andrew 201 204 0 – 9 11 5
Marengo 013 228 X – 16 17 1
WP: Mariah Dionne (6IP, 10H, 9R, 9ER, 5BB, 4K).
Top hitters: Marengo – Mariah Dionne 4-5 (2HR, 4RBI, 2R), Leah Secor 2-5 (HR, 3RBI, 2R), Veronica Ruelius 2-2 (HR, 3RBI, 2R), Allison Jasinski 3-5 (HR, 2B, 3RBI, R), Rebecca Schultz 2-5 (RBI, R).
Marengo 17, Batavia 11
Marengo 372 200 3 – 17 21 4
Batavia 103 106 0 – 11 15 6
WP: Leah Secor (3.1IP, 7H, 4R, 1ER, 1BB, 1K).
Top hitters: Marengo – Veronica Ruelius 4-5 (2 2B, 3B, 4RBI, 3R), Mariah Dionne 2-4 (HR, 2B, 4RBI, R), Leah Secor 4-5 (2B, 3R), Jessica Turner 3-5 (SB, 2RBI, 4R), Allison Jasinksi 3-5 (2B, R), Trinity Martin 2-5 (2 2B, RBI, R), Aubrey Wzientek 2-5 (R).
Plainfield Central 7, Marengo 6 (Championship game)
Plainfield Central 202 020 1 – 7 10 2
Marengo 301 002 0 – 6 9 3
LP: Mariah Dionne (7IP, 10H, 7R, 5ER, 1BB, 3K).
Top hitters: Marengo – Mariah Dionne 1-2 (HR, 3RBI, R), Veronica Ruelius 2-4 (HR, 2RBI, 2R), Rebecca Schultz 1-3 (2B), Aubrey Wzientek 2-4 (2B, RBI), Anna Walsweer 2-4.