Logan softballers drop pair at Lake Land

BY JOHN D. HOMAN

Logan Media Services

MATTOON – The John A. Logan College softball team dropped a doubleheader Tuesday at league-leading Lake Land College at Mattoon, 15-5 and 8-1.

Vols’ freshman righthander Heather Johnson started and took the loss in the opener. She allowed nine runs on nine hits through the first two innings. Sophomore Sydney Skeel was solid in relief yet again, surrendering only two unearned runs through four innings of work. She then gave up four additional runs in the sixth inning for a total of six on five hits.

Rebecca Patterson was the hitting star for the Lakers, clubbing three home runs and driving in eight of her team’s 15 runs. Kristi Belshe and Skyler Woods also homered for the home team.

Logan managed seven hits. Ana Duda had an RBI triple. Johnson had an RBI single. Both Taylor Brackett and Kortney Crawford delivered doubles. Taylor Price, Kirsten Price and Skeel all singled.

In Game 2, sophomore pitcher Sarah DaRosa deserved a better fate. She held thehigh-octane Lakers to only two runs through the first four innings. A two-out error by third baseman Kirsten Price, however, led to a three-run fifth. Two more runs scored in the sixth after Vols’ second baseman Jayda Rendleman was late to cover second base on a force out.

Logan also had the bases loaded with nobody out in the sixth inning and only scored one run. Offensively, the Vols could only manage three hits. Jessica Hirsch, Taylor Price and Rendleman contributed singles to the cause. Price drove in the only run.

Logan head coach Bruce Jilek was disappointed in his team’s performance.

“We didn’t play much of anything today,” he said. “Our pitching wasn’t there. Our defense wasn’t there. In the first game, we hit the ball some, but not in the second game. And every error we made, they capitalized on.”

The Vols now stand 20-10 overall and are 13-7 in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference. They are scheduled to host Wabash Valley Thursday with games at 2 and 4.