Begnel's Grand Slam Highlights Bison Win

When she's basking in the sun in Houston next fall, senior Emily Begnel can reflect back on a cold day back in May when she did something special in a softball game.

Begnel is destined to study biochemistry and Spanish at Rice University. But for now the BG first baseman can concentrate on finishing her varsity softball career on a good note.

On Saturday at home, visiting couldn't figure out a way to keep her off base. She walked, singled twice and drove in run heading to BG's last at-bats in the sixth inning. That's when Begnel drove in four runs with one swing of her bat.

Begnel's grand slam homer put this game away. BG beat Wheeling 8-0.

"I was looking to help my team out,'' Begnel said. "The wind was blowing in but I felt I hit it pretty good. "

Begnel's blast was the lone homer of the day, but it wasn't like the Bison (13-12) weren't trying. Leadoff hitter KC Dunne twice hit balls to the wall before they were hauled in. Catcher Dani Shapiro also cracked one to the fence but that too was snared by Wheeling.

The MSL East battle was scoreless until the third inning. Wheeling had the first threat in the top half of the frame. The Wildcats had runners on the corners with two outs before BG third baseman Erin Barton threw out a runner at first to end the inning.

In the home half of the third, Barton scored the game's first run on Begnel's first safety of the game, a single to center. Jessie Lazzara's two-out, two-run single gave winning pitcher Maria Dax some runs to work with.

Dax did not allow another hit until the sixth inning. She finished with a three-hitter. She didn't walk a hitter until the seventh. The right-hander fanned the side in the seventh and finished with seven strikeouts.

"She had good movement on the ball,'' said BG coach Jamie Paul. "We had a good defensive game and played hard even though it was windy and cold."

Dax also helped BG with a booming double to left in the fourth inning.

Dunne, evidently tiring of flying to the wall, settled for a single in the sixth. She and teammate Andrea DiPrima trotted home on the Begnel blast to center field.

All of this firepower in the BG lineup, makes one wonder how come this team is just a game over .500 on the season. One clue is the 6-8 mark in conference play. Having to play the likes of Barrington and Fremd and East powerhouse Elk Grove makes life uncomfortable.

Playoff action kicks off for the Bison on May 25. Buffalo Grove, the eighth seed in the Warren Sectional, plays in the Mundelein Regional against the host Mustangs.