A familiar post-season foe came to the Roundhouse in Mattoon for Tuesday’s Sectional softball semifinal. The Lady Wave put together a terrific all-around game and defeated the Glenwood Titans by a score of 6-1.
Mattoon jumped ahead in the first inning. Avery Jackson led off with her 17th double of the season. Ivy Nichols successfully sacrificed Jackson to third base. Kyliegh Basham hit a sharp grounder up the middle. Titans’ starting pitcher Nikole Haberkorn got a piece of the ball with her glove. It ricocheted behind the shortstop Sarah Bingenheimer and Jackson was able to score the game’s first run.
It was 1-0 Mattoon as the game moved to the second inning. Glenwood put the lead-off hitter on with a single. Haberkorn bunted into a fielder’s choice. The courtesy runner for the pitcher was Hanna Rebbe at first. Angie Ford, the Titans’ first baseman, connected on a deep drive to the left-center field gap. Mattoon center fielder Shelby Youngblood collected the ball near the wall. Her perfect throw to Avery Jackson was followed by another strike to the plate. Lady Wave catcher Kelsey Farmer put the tag down on Rebbe, and Mattoon’s lead was preserved at 1-0 with an 8-6-2 put out at home.
Glenwood was able to tie the game in the top of the third. Lexi Koester’s RBI-ground out to short scored Amanda Balster, who had started the inning with a single. It didn’t take long for the Lady Wave to answer, however.
Jackson led off with a single. Youngblood picked up a two-out single to keep the inning alive. Mattoon strung together three consecutive RBI-singles to regain the lead. Bella Coffey, Cassi Dow, and Mariah Spurgeon provided the Lady Wave with a 4-1 lead.
Lesley Swick was once again in control for Mattoon in the circle. The senior left-hander tossed a complete game six-hitter. She walked one, hit two batters, and fanned five. The Lady Wave supported their pitcher defensively very well in the victory. Mariah Spurgeon’s diving catch in right field ended Glenwood’s last significant threat of the game, stranding runners at second and third in the fifth.
The Lady Wave (24-7) tacked on a pair of runs in the fourth. The final score of 6-1 moved Mattoon into the Sectional championship game (round of 16) on Saturday afternoon.
Mattoon will face Sacred Heart-Griffin in the next round. The Cyclones beat Effingham 9-2 in Tuesday’s first semifinal. Saturday’s championship game can be heard at 1:00pm on 101.3 WMCI.
All game broadcasts are available on-demand here on our website, powered by the Fellowship Center.