Softball: Lilly Kunzer pitches, hits Marengo past Belvidere

MARENGO – Lilly Kunzer stepped up to the plate with runners on first and second base and two outs in the bottom of the third inning eager to help her team.

The Marengo sophomore didn’t wait around and connected early in the count against Belvidere pitcher McKenna Morris, turning on a pitch and sending the ball far over the left-field fence.

“It felt really good to hit that one out,” Kunzer said of her first home run of the season to give Marengo the lead. “It fired up the team because it was 0-0 and the game was going a little slow. I knew when I hit that, we were ready to go.”

The Indians scored three more runs in the bottom of the fifth on four hits, and Kunzer helped keep the shutout intact with her defense to lead Marengo to a 6-0 victory over the Bucs in their nonconference game Monday.

Kunzer, who pitched in big games as a freshman last year, moved to 3-0 in the circle while the Indians also improved to 3-0. She allowed one hit and a walk with nine strikeouts, facing the minimum number of batters in the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

“I just thought Lilly commanded the zone really well today,” Indians coach Dwain Nance said. “She’s got a little more speed [this season], but the biggest thing is probably her confidence. She came in last year pitching and was a little unsure of herself.

“It’s a really nice combination with her and [catcher Kylee Jensen]. [Jensen’s] only a freshman, but she doesn’t act like a freshman. She acts very mature, she understands the game very well, and she just has a real high softball IQ.”

Belvidere’s bats were hot going into Monday, scoring a combined 36 runs in wins over Durand and Woodstock. Kunzer was consistently in the zone, retiring 11 of the first 12 batters before giving up a single to Morris in the fourth.

“She was getting us with offspeed [pitches] and had decent movement,” Bucs coach Amy Douglas said of Kunzer. “We were watching where we wanted the ball to go instead of where the ball was. That impacted our ability to put the ball in play.”

Kunzer had tremendous defense behind her, with junior center fielder Maddy Christopher running down a hard-hit ball in the gap in the top of the first inning to keep Belvidere from scoring and catching a couple of more at the fence. Kunzer’s infield defense also played great, with the Bucs getting only two base runners all game.

Christopher had a good look at Kunzer’s complete-game shutout from center field.

“I felt like her movement really got the girls,” said Christopher, who went 2 for 4 with two runs scored batting leadoff. “They thought they had it, the ball moved, they didn’t have it.”

Kunzer was appreciative of the defense behind her.

“Maddy Christopher with three or four catches out there saved me,” Kunzer said. “It’s so nice because I know if I mess up or I throw a pitch down the middle, I know my teammates all have my back.”

Kunzer (2 for 4, four RBIs, two runs), Jensen and Mia Lulinski each had RBI hits in the fifth to chase Morris from the game. First baseman Marissa Young went 2 for 4 and added a run.

Nance likes the makeup of his team, which includes one senior, three juniors, four sophomores and four freshmen.

He is equally excited about his team’s 3-0 start.

“They’re enthusiastic and energetic, and they jell really well,” Nance said. “I’ve been waiting a little while for this group. This team has been kind of in the making for a few years now. I’m pretty excited about them being here.”