Chargers bumped from Region 4 quarterfinal tourney after pair of losses

ROCKFORD — Maleaha Nagel had three hits and three RBIs in an elimination game, but the Sandburg softball team was knocked out of the Region 4 Division II quarterfinal tournament with a pair of losses Saturday at Rock Valley.

The 16th-seeded Chargers dropped their opening contest to the host and No. 1-seeded Golden Eagles, then were unable to close out Waubonsee in a knockout game that afternoon, losing in walk-off fashion.

GAME 1
No. 1 Rock Valley 14, No. 16 Sandburg 2 (5 innings)
Sandburg      020     00       —        2          2          0
Rock Valley   542     3x        —        14       15       0
L: Maleaha Nagel: 1 IP, 0 K, 2 BB

KEY MOMENT
Rock Valley tallied five first-inning runs before the Chargers got on the board in the top of the second. With two out and runners at first and second, Ava Ruggles stroked a double to center to plate Kaitlyn Egenes. Madeline Mooney followed with an infield hit, bringing in Olivia Lewis to make it 5-2. The Golden Eagles, though, put up four runs in their half of the second and scored multiple runs in the third and fourth on their way to a run-rule victory.

SANDBURG STANDOUT
Ruggles' RBI double in second proved to be the Chargers' lone extra-base hit of the contest.

GAME 2
No. 9 Waubonsee 7, No. 16 Sandburg 6
Sandburg      302     001     0          —        6          10       1
Waubonsee  200     004     1          —        7          12       1
L – Mary Hellige 5.2 IP, 1 K, 2 BB

KEY MOMENTS
• The Chargers made an early statement as a Bailey Ryan Walk and Ailexa Hunter single set up Nagel's three-run homer to center in the first inning.
• Waubonsee put up two runs in its half of the first, but a pair of third-inning tallies gave Sandburg its three-run cushion back. Hunter's double to center drove in Ryan, and Hunter came in one batter later as Nagel's base hit to left was followed up by an error on the Chiefs' left fielder.
• Still up 5-2 in the sixth, Lewis led off with a single and moved to third on passed ball and groundout. Ruggles delivered a sacrifice fly to push Sandburg's lead to 6-2.
• A two-run homer keyed Waubonsee's four-run bottom of the sixth to tie the game. The Chiefs then won it in the seventh with a walk and two singles, ending the Chargers' season.

SANDBURG STANDOUT
Nagel closed her Chargers career on a strong note, going 3 for 4 with three RBIs. Her first-inning homer marked her team-leading eighth of this season and was the 19th in a Sandburg uniform. The first baseman added singles in the third and fifth innings.

OTHER TOP CHARGERS
• Hunter: 2 for 4, double, two runs, RBI
• Ryan: 1 for 3, walk, two runs
• Lewis: 1 for 2, walk, run 

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