The Chesterton softball team knows that its going to get better and they took a step toward it on Saturday by winning two-of-three games at the Horseshoe Classic at Pendleton Heights.

In game one, the Trojans (3-3) fell to Madison Grant 3-1 by giving up two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

“It should be obvious that the thing we are most pleased with is the defensive effort,” Chesterton coach LouAnn Hopson said. “It was pretty solid. There were some plays we didn’t make to stop runner advancement, but we did make the correct decisions for the most part.

“The routine defensive plays were made.”

Madison Grant took the early lead with a run in the bottom of the first as they capitalized on a Trojan error and picked up a two-out RBI single.

Chesterton responded in the third inning when Alexis Paz reached on an error. After stealing second base, back-to-back groundouts scored her.

Madison Grant picked up the game-winning runs in the sixth after a one out walk was followed by a base hit.

“We had opportunities to score,” Hopson said. “We had the bases loaded in the first and runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth. As long as we keep getting opportunities, we will eventually find ways to score.”

Freshman Taylor Harlow picked up her first career win in the day’s second game as the offense exploded for a 9-1 victory over South Bend Washington.

The Trojans big inning came in the third when they scored a season-high six runs. Jessica Sacha drew a walk to get things started and Samantha Gross singled. Alexis Paz singled and Sacha scored when Heather Overla reached on an error.

Gross scored on Catie Armstrong’s fielders choice. Amanda Gough doubled in both Paz and Armstrong. Gough scored when Harlow picked up her first hit of the season.

Consecutive hits by Amy DeYoung and Sacha scored Harlow with the final run.

“We hit the ball very well,” Hopson said. “We were able to experiment with some aggressive types of offense. Things went very well.”

Harlow, in her varsity debut, struck out eight and allowed just two hits.

“Taylor was a pleasant surprise,” Hopson said. “She did a very nice job of keeping Washington off balance.”

Kelci Garcia and Gough had two hits in the victory, while Overla and Gough each tallied two RBI’s.

In the final game of the day, the bats stayed hot for the Trojans as they jumped out on top with four runs in the first en route to an 11-5 victory over DeKalb.

“We really hit the cover off the ball,” Hopson said. “There was lots of real heads up base running.”

Jessica McClellan picked up the victory for the Trojans, while Harlow came in to get the save.

“Jessica was in trouble in several innings,” Hopson said. “She walked the bases loaded with no outs in the fifth inning. Taylor came in and gave up a double, but after that she was splendid.”

The Trojans return to the field on Tuesday as they travel to Valparaiso for a 4:30 p.m. start.

Madison Grant 3, Chesterton 1

SCORING BY INNINGS

Chesterton 001 000 0 – 1 4 1

Madison Grant 100 002 x – 3 5 2

Pitching Summary – Chesterton – Catie Armstrong (6 IP, 5 H, 9 K, 3 BB).

Chesterton 9, SB Washington 1

SCORING BY INNINGS

SB Washington 000 010 0 – 1 2 3

Chesterton 006 003 x – 9 9 0

2B – Samantha Bozak, Amanda Gough 2 (C). Pitching Summary – Chesterton – Taylor Harlow (7 IP, 2 H, 8 K, 3 BB).

Chesterton 11, DeKalb 5

SCORING BY INNINGS

DeKalb 020 030 0 – 5 8 2

Chesterton 403 301 x – 11 10 3

Pitching Summary – Chesterton – Jessica McClellan (4 1/3 IP, 7 H, 4 K, 4 BB), Taylor Harlow (2 2/3 IP, 1 H, 7 K, 0 BB).

Posted 4/7/2008