Sometimes you just have to win ugly.

The Chesterton softball team gave up three runs in the top of the second, but picked up a pair in the fourth to get a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Valparaiso on a night when they got just three hits.

“This is one of those wins we will just take and hope that we hit the ball better tomorrow,” Chesterton coach LouAnn Hopson said. “We just didn’t hit the ball very well.”

The Trojans (13-5, 8-2) jumped on top in the bottom of the first inning when Alexis Paz drew a leadoff walk from Valparaiso starter Casey Crozier. Sam Gross put down a sacrifice bunt that was thrown into right field and all the way to the fence.

Paz scored and Gross ended up on third. Gross scored on a wild pitch for the 2-0 lead.

“Valpo made some mistakes and our runners were heads up enough to take advantage of it,” Hopson said.

Valparaiso started the second inning with a leadoff single and a bunt that the Trojans threw away. With runners on second and third, the Vikings got a double to tie the game at 2-all.

After back-to-back strike outs by Chesterton starter Catie Armstrong, a misplayed ball in the outfield allowed the third run to score.

Chesterton put the game-winning rally together in the fourth inning when Sam Bozak started things with a single. Taylor Harlow sacrificed her to second base. After stealing third, Bozak scored on a wild pitch.

The rally continued when Jessica McClellan reached on an error and scored the game-winner when the Valpo left fielder misplayed a sinking line drive.

Taylor Harlow worked the last four innings in relief for Chesterton and struck out four to pick up the victory.

The Trojans return to the field today when they travel to Portage for a 4:30 p.m. start.

Chesterton 4, Valparaiso 3

AT CHESTERTON

SCORING BY INNINGS

Valparaiso 030 000 0 – 3 5 3

Chesterton 200 200 x – 4 3 2

2B – Bianco (V). Pitching Summary – Valparaiso – Casey Crozier (6 IP, 3 H, 9 K, 2 BB); Chesterton – Catie Armstrong (2 IP, 5 K, 1 BB), Taylor Harlow (4 IP, 4 K, 0 BB). WP – Harlow. LP – Crozier.

Posted 4/30/2008