It took a while to get going, but once they did it was impressive.

The Chesterton softball team scored 13 runs over the final two frames and pounded out 21 hits as they beat Hobart 18-5 in the opening round of the IHSAA Sectional at Crown Point on Tuesday.

“It took us a while to get the bats going,” Chesterton coach LouAnn Hopson said. “The first couple of innings, we hit one hard ground ball. Once we started hitting hard, the extra base hits and Hobart errors started.”

The Trojans took a 3-0 lead in the third inning when Sydney Cooley ripped a bases loaded double that scored Sammie Howard, Jaren Lynch and Heather Overla.

The Brickies responded with two runs in the bottom of the third thanks in part to a two-out infield error from the Trojans.

“We made some errors, but at this time of the year, the win is what counts,” Hopson said. “Advancing is the only thing that matters.”

Both teams scored solo runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Chesterton got an RBI single from Megan Tymorek and a fielder’s choice from Taylor Harlow that scored Ryan Bozak and Lynch before the flood gates opened.

Chesterton sent 11 hitters to the plate in the sixth who racked up seven hits and took advantage of two Hobart errors to score six runs.

In the seventh, the Trojans put the game away by again sending 11 hitters to the plate and collecting seven hits.

“The wind was blowing out some,” Hopson said. “I don’t know how much effect the wind and the cool air had tonight.”

The Trojans will face off against Portage on Thursday beginning at 7:30 p.m. The other semifinal will match Valparaiso against Crown Point at 5:30 p.m.

SCORING BY INNINGS

Chesterton 003 116 7 -- 18 21 3

Hobart 002 111 0 -- 5 5 4

2B -- Sydney Cooley, Taylor Harlow, Megan Matheny, Megan Tymorek, Sammie Howard ©. Pitching Summary -- Chesterton -- Megan Tymorek (7 IP, 5 H, 11 K, 1 BB). WP -- Tymorek.