South’s mistakes help Jacobs claim regional

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ROCKFORD – The Jacobs softball team took advantage of four Crystal Lake South miscues, including three throwing errors, to win the IHSA Class 4A Jefferson Regional, 6-2, on Friday.

The Golden Eagles scored three unearned runs and played error-free defense en route to their second consecutive regional title.

“We knew that we were going to have to take advantage when we could,” Jacobs coach Jeremy Bauer said. “We hit the ball hard, and we scored runs ... when it mattered the most.”

The Eagles (21-11) advance to face Cary-Grove in the Guilford Sectional semifinals at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in Rockford. C-G eliminated Jacobs from the playoffs last year in the sectional title game.

The Gators struck first when senior Tori Stevenson pounded a two-out double just inside the right field foul line to score Sam McLean in the second inning.

Jacobs responded in the bottom of the third with hits from Jackie Hengler (2 for 3), Jenna Teson and Kara Arceneaux, whose double to the gap in left field scored Hengler.

Teson and Arceneaux came home after a throwing error by South allowed Alyssa Lach to reach. Lach later scored on pitcher Melissa Lombardo’s single to give Jacobs a 4-1 lead.

South starter Samantha Golf (7-2) allowed two earned runs and five hits with a walk and two strikeouts in three innings. Senior Hannah Mahoney replaced Golf in the fourth inning.

The Gators (19-10) scored again in the fourth off another double from Stevenson to cut their deficit to two runs, 4-2.

“[Lombardo] was high in her pitch count, but she’s conditioned to do that,” Bauer said. “She would have thrown 200 pitches if she needed to.”

Lombardo earned the complete-game win, allowing two runs on six hits. She issued seven walks and struck out six.

“South’s a really good hitting team, so we knew as a pitcher and catcher we had to throw our A game,” Lombardo said. “[My team] is always there for me.”

South coach Scott Busam was upset by the errors that plagued his team Friday.

“It’s frustrating. We played them so well this season,” Busam said. “We picked the worst possible day to play our worst game of the season, and I think that’s what it comes down to.

“I think Jacobs didn’t make any mistakes today.”