Nailbiters Continue as St. Norbert Tops Wheaton and Hope to Win Wheaton Invitational

From Sports Information Director, March 27, 2010 | Softball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

WHEATON, Ill. - St. Norbert College extended its streak of one-run softball games to eight as the Green Knights topped Wheaton College 11-10 and Hope College 3-2 at the Wheaton Invitational.

The Green Knights (7-5) held off a furious Wheaton rally to win the opener, and then scored three times in the bottom of the sixth to beat Hope.

St. Norbert jumped out to an 11-3 lead in the top of the sixth before the Thunder scored six times in the sixth and once more in the seventh. Wheaton (11-7) left two runners on in the bottom of the seventh.

Kayla Krueger had an RBI double in the first, and Alyssa McGray followed with a two-run double in the second. The Green Knights snapped a 3-3 tie with a five-run third. Alissa Purko's three-run home run was the big blow in the inning, while Kristin Zimmerman had an RBI double.

St. Norbert had 11 hits against Wheaton. Zimmerman was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while McGray was 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Krueger finished as the winning pitcher, working 5 2/3 innings allowing eight hits with four runs, one walk and three strikeouts.

Kari Corbeille spun a three-hitter to lead the Green Knights in the nightcap. Suzie Stevenson gave the Flying Dutch a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the fourth. St. Norbert answered in its three-run sixth with a two-out RBI single by Collette Ullmer followed by a pinch-hit two-run double by Jessica Kropp.

Tracy Palmer and Stephanie Ortiz were both 2-for-3 for St. Norbert. Corbeille allowed three hits, two runs, three walks and had six strikeouts in the win.