Softball: Oswego growing confident in the batter's box

Everything was working for the Oswego softball team in Tuesday afternoon's Southwest Prairie Conference matchup against Plainfield South.

The Panthers got on the scoreboard early to take a 7-0 lead over the visiting Cougars after two innings and cruised to an 8-1 victory. The win avenges a 7-1 loss to Plainfield South less than three weeks ago.

"We have confidence up in the box," Oswego coach Amanda Stanton said. "Our hitting was great. We got our bunts down, we moved our runners and thinking about base hits and getting base. Coming out with that mentality was definitely different than the last game against them."

Oswego (8-9, 2-7 SPC) made contact against Plainfield South starter Katelyn Czoschke early, with Lexi Moky knocking out an RBI single with two outs to drive in Annie Scaramuzzi, who led off the game with a walk. Ashley McCance kept things going with her RBI double to left field, and Oswego jumped on the board, 2-0.

Oswego pitcher Jenna Veber, who allowed five hits and no earned runs in 5 innings of work, caught a pop up at the mound to end the second inning and leave two runners stranded. Czoschke walked her first two batters to start the bottom of the second, and Oswego took full advantage. Scaramuzzi moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt and Kayla Moky hit a two-run single to left field.

Madison Deacon relieved Czoschke after 1 1/3 inning, but Oswego remained productive at the plate. Lexi Moky drove in her sister with a single and McCance's outfield hit allowed two runs to score, including Lexi Moky, who was called safe after her slide into home plate to put Oswego ahead 7-0.

Plainfield South left the bases loaded in the third after scoring one run on a misplayed ball in the Panther infield, but the Cougars could not produce any more runs in the game.

Ally Miller opened the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run over the center field fence to complete the scoring. Scaramuzzi relieved Veber in the sixth and allowed one hit and one walk before she struck out the side to end the game.

"We're seeing a lot more leadership and a lot more talk out on the field and the younger girls are comfortable now," Oswego coach Amanda Stanton said. "Everyone is meshing together, and that's what we need."

Plainfield Central 5, Oswego 2: Last Thursday, Oswego held a lead until the fifth inning when the Wildcats knocked out a three-run double en route to the win.

Oswego 6, Naperville North 5: On Monday, Oswego faced Naperville North in a rescheduled game and Scaramuzzi knocked in the game-winner for the Panthers.