HOBART | After allowing two runs in the first inning, Hebron pitcher Mollie Lindeman settled in and found her groove.
Lindeman retired 20 of the last 24 Hobart hitters, scattering three hits and collecting 11 strikeouts in Times No. 10 Hebron's 5-2 win over the Brickies on Saturday.
Hobart tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the first when a fielding error by Hebron's Maggie Lindeman allowed two runs to score. After that, Mollie Lindeman took control in the circle.
From the second through sixth innings, Lindeman retired 15 of 16 Hobart hitters.
"She's confident in the defense behind her. She settled in and did a great job," Hebron coach Mike McLindon said.
The Brickies (1-6) loaded the bases with two out in the seventh inning, but Lindeman struck out Paige Talian on a full-count pitch to end the game. All three outs in the seventh came via Lindeman strikeouts.
"For whatever reason, (Lindeman) was getting us, and we weren't able to string any hits together today," Hobart coach Katrina Lucas said.
Hebron (4-1) took the lead for good in the top of the third when a single by Ashlyn Wheeler brought home Katie Clemens to put the Hawks up 3-2. Wheeler finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
"I said, 'We need to come back, get a run and put the pressure back on them,'" McLindon said. "We were able to squeeze one across, which was nice."
The Hawks added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh on a double by Emily O'Leary that plated Clemens and a Wheeler single that scored O'Leary.
Clemens reached base four times and scored three runs. O'Leary went 3-for-4 with two singles and a double, and she also drove in two runs.
"We just recently moved her up to the number two spot in the order because she's been making such great contact," McLindon said of Clemens. "She is doing an outstanding job."
Hobart's Jasmine Suarez allowed five runs on 10 hits in her season debut.
"She was able to find her spots up there," Lucas said of Suarez. "She didn't get rattled even in those times where they got a hit or she walked a girl. She was able to come back and get the next batter."
Dana Claussen had two of Hobart's three hits.
Please Wait…