By Fred Kroner
Shayne Immke and Alyssa Acton combined to pitch the first shutout of the season on Thursday (April 7) for the St. Joseph-Ogden softball team, an 11-0 win at Rantoul.
Immke (2-0) worked three hitless innings, walking four and striking out three. Acton walked one batter and fanned three.
The Spartans were backed by an offense that included a home run and a double from Addy Martinie – who drove in three runs – as well as two hits from Peyton Jones and two RBI from Kelsey Martlage. Jones and Martinie each stole three bases and scored three runs.
On Saturday (April 9), the Spartans won for the sixth time in their last seven games, topping Tri-Valley at home, 9-1.
Maggie Ward (5-2) pitched a complete-game five-hitter, walking two and fanning six.
Immke socked three hits and Addison Frick contributed two hits. Immke tallied three runs and Frick scored twice. Jones drove in two runs.
The Spartans scored three runs in each of the first two innings.
That the SJ-O home field was playable was a tribute to the grounds keeping efforts of Kevin Martlage and Tim Short.
SJ-O (8-3) is 1-1 in Illini Prairie Conference games and returns to action on Monday (April 11) at Stanford Olympia.
