Eckberg, BV top Holmes, Princeton in pitchers' duel

MANLIUS — It was one of those games that you love as a pitcher, but one that can make a coach pull their hair out when it comes to lack of offense.

Senior Lauren Eckberg of Bureau Valley and junior Gwen Holmes of Princeton  dominated hitters after the first inning of Monday’s Bureau Valley Regional softball opener for. They locked into a pitcher duel that Eckberg and the Storm managed to pull out a 2-1 win.

Eckberg got the win striking out eight while Holmes took the loss giving up one hit and two unearned runs.

“Lauren said she wanted the ball today,” BV coach Brian Humphrey said. “She has pitched just a handful of times this year and she did a great job today.”

Taylor Williams led off the game for Princeton with a beautiful bunt single. Two batters later Megan Gibson singled to score Williams and give the Tigresses an early 1-0 lead.

“In that first inning we did a couple of nice things and got the lead,” Princeton coach Bob James said. “After that I thought we were not disciplined at the plate and we didn’t make Bureau Valley throw a lot of pitches.”

In the bottom half of the first inning it was the Storm who took advantage of opportunities when they were presented to them.

Ali Brokaw walked and two batters later Eckberg reached on a throwing error  by Leah Shaw, allowing Brokaw to come around and tie the game at one.

With two outs in the inning Rachel Hix reached on another Tigresses error as Williams dropped a pop fly that allowed Eckberg to come around and score.

“These girls took advantage of opportunities when they had to,” Humphrey said. “An overthrow and then a dropped ball which I’m sure is uncharacteristic of Princeton, but we got the runs and then played good defense and got good pitching the rest of the way.”

Fans were treated to solid pitching and defense from both teams over the final six innings.

Both pitchers sat the other down 1-2-3 in the second inning. For Princeton it was also victim of heart-stopping defense from Bureau Valley.

Gwen Holmes came up to bat and just crushed the pitch, but BV first baseman Sam Transou got her glove up just in time and robbed Holmes of extra bases.

“You got to give Bureau Valley credit,” James said. “They made the plays on defense. I just wish we would have been more patient at the plate. We’re learning though. These girls have really improved over the course of the season.”

In the pitching circle, Holmes was dominating as she faced 15 batters after the first inning and retired all 15 giving up just the one hit in the first inning and no earned runs.

“Gwen was on today that’s for sure,” James said. “After the first inning I thought our defense was just as solid as Bureau Valley, but things just didn’t bounce our way.”

In the fourth inning it was Leah Shaw who crushed the ball, but Brokaw made the play at third b ase and ended the inning for Princeton.

Onto the fifth inning where it was Homes again who crushed the shot. This time it was into the gap where left fielder Jessica Cole tracked down and robbed Holmes of extra bases once again.

“That was an amazing play out there by Jessica (Cole),” Humphrey said. “That shot was crushed, but that probably saved a run there.”

In the seventh, Princeton did everything they could to get a rally going. Gibson singled to lead off, but was later thrown out on a fielder’s choice and Holmes singled to right.

Eckberg got freshman Brianna Kamphuis to strikeout to end the game with the Storm winning 2-1.

Princeton was led by Gibson with two hits and an RBI while the Storm was led by Transou with one hit.

Bureau Valley now faces Orion today, Tuesday, in Manlius at 4:30 p.m. with the winner advancing to Saturday’s final.

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