It took a while, but the Chesterton bats finally came around.

The Chesterton softball team exploded for nine runs over the final two innings and pounded out 14 hits in a 10-2 Duneland Athletic Conference win at LaPorte.

“Our offense was hitting from the start,” Chesterton coach LouAnn Hopson said. “It just took us a while to score.”

The Trojans opened up the scoring in the second inning when Mallory McKee doubled and Sarah Richards reached on an error. McKee scored on Taylor Bissonnette’s bunt.

LaPorte evened things up in the third against Chesterton starter Megan Tymorek. The Slicers got a leadoff walk and a pair of two-out singles to rally.

Tymorek finished with nine strikeouts and just one walk, while scattering nine hits.

“I know nine hits by LaPorte seems like a lot, but three were infield hits,” Hopson said. “Megan had a great game. She and (catcher) Megan Matheny worked a good game.”

Shelby Carter led off a big sixth inning rally for the Trojans by reaching on an error. She moved to third on a double by Tymorek. Sammie Howard doubled to plate Carter.

After an intentional walk to Matheny, Jill Bohnert hit a grand slam home run.

“There is no doubt that up 2-1, the grand slam gave us a big lift,” Hopson said.

The onslaught continued in the seventh inning when Carter and Tymorek singled to lead things off. Another Howard double plated Carter. Matheny singled to score courtesy runner Alexa Olson and Howard scored on a passed ball.

Matheny scored when Sydney Cooley reached on an error.

LaPorte’s solo run in the seventh inning was far too little, far too late.

Carter and Howard led the Trojan offense with three hits each, while Bohnert had four RBI’s and Howard had two.

Chesterton returns to the field on Wednesday when they travel to Valparaiso to face the Vikings beginning at 4:30 p.m.

SCORING BY INNINGS

Chesterton 010 005 4 -- 10 14 1

LaPorte 001 000 1 -- 2 9 5

2B -- Megan Tymorek, Sammie Howard 2, Mallory McKee ©. HR -- Jill Bohnert ©. Pitching Summary -- Chesterton -- Megan Tymorek (7 IP, 9 H, 9 K, 1 BB). WP -- Tymorek.

Posted 4/17/2012