CHESTERTON | Crown Point softball coach Ginger Britton was thankful that style points don't count toward sectional wins.
The Bulldogs scored twice in the top of the seventh to come from behind and beat Portage 4-3 in a Class 4A Chesterton Sectional semifinal on Thursday.
Crown Point (25-7) will face the host Trojans (19-10) in today's championship. Chesterton beat Hobart 13-3.
The opener featured a combined nine errors, including six by Portage. Only one of the game's seven runs was earned.
"It was ugly but successful," Britton said. "We capitalized on some opportunities, and that's what you have to do at this level. At this time of the season, you take anything you can get."
Allyson Rock delivered a two-out single that scored the winning run. She drove a 2-2 pitch to center field that scored pinch runner Kendall Mores.
"I didn't want to swing at anything on the outside corner, because I don't like anything on the outside," Rock said.
The Bulldogs tied the game on a throwing error by Portage pitcher Kiley Jones. Jones tried to throw out Rachael Suits going from second to third, but her throw went into left field, and Suits came around to score.
"It was huge that Rachael Suits gets on at the lead-off spot," Britton said. "When she gets on, stuff happens on the base paths."
Portage (18-8) took a 3-2 lead in the sixth on a throwing error by shortstop Mandey Shrader. She tried to double off Katie Peksenak, and her throw went into center field.
Rachael Centanni worked two scoreless innings of relief to get the win for Crown Point. Suits finished 2-for-4 at the plate.
Haley Hodges hit a solo home run and scored twice for the Indians.
The Trojans scored six runs in the first inning of the second game and cruised from there.
Sarah Richards, Sydney Cooley and Amanda Dujmovich each had home runs for the Trojans. Richards hit a two-run blast that put Chesterton up 6-1.
Jill Bohnert had three hits for the Trojans, who recorded 15 hits as a team.
Megan Tymorek allowed two hits and struck out nine in the circle for Chesterton.
Hannah Spence hit a two-run home run for Hobart (14-16).
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