Softball: Bats Spark Naperville North Doubleheader Sweep

had little difficulty sweeping Plainfield North in their doubleheader match on Saturday in part because a great deal of the damage against the Tigers was self-inflicted. 

“We’re very thin as a team,” Tigers coach Claude Ainsworth said. “Very young.”

In game one, the Huskies (13-10) took a 4-2 lead in the third after a pair of defensive mistakes by the Tigers (8-15). They added to their lead in the sixth with a two-run homer by Caitlyn Warren. Not long after, starting pitcher Erin Enk left the game with a shoulder injury that’s been a recurring issue all season. 

“The pain comes and goes and it really hurts when it flares up,” Ainsworth said. 

Recent sophomore call-up Caroline Roberts filled in for Enk because they had no one else who could pitch. Roberts struggled with her control, walking six batters in two innings and allowing five more runs to cross the plate. 

“The bats came alive for us,” Huskies coach Laurie Davidson said. “It turned out really well for us.” 

The struggles on the mound and on defense continued in game two. Huskies leadoff hitter Sammy Marshall, who went 5-for-5 in game one, started things off with a swinging bunt. Second baseman Katie Ready, however, wasn’t there in time for the throw from third baseman Taylor Wilhelm. Marshall, by far the fastest player on either team, made it to third easily and would later score in the four-run first.

“We’ve got some speed,” Davidson said. “Key for us is getting on base.” 

Roberts’s control was better in the second game and she struck out six in five innings. However, she was no match for the Huskies’ bats and they rang up 13 runs on the sophomore pitcher in a real trial by fire. 

“I’m still looking at the upside with this team,” Ainsworth said. “We’ll take our lumps this year, but next year’ll be a different story.” 

Davidson was also optimistic about her team. “It’s been good for us. We’re really firing on all cylinders right now as a team.” 

The Huskies play Wheaton North at home on Monday. The Tigers play Plainfield South on Tuesday.