Munster’s Mimi Brody braced for the change-up.
And when the sophomore outfielder got it from Andrean pitcher Abby Graegin, she delivered.
Brody’s two-run single with two outs in the first inning Monday sparked the Mustangs to a 3-1 Northwest Crossroads Conference victory over the host 59ers.
“Graegin is a pitcher who I’ve faced before, not only in high school but also in travel,” Brody said. “I know she has a lot of good pitches and she has a great changeup.
“So if I got deeper in the count, I was probably going to see that change-up. I was ready and just tried to hit it as solidly as I could.”
Brody’s lined hit to left field set the tone in a game in which runs figured to be precious, especially after Graegin and the 59ers (5-4, 3-3) edged Amy Kaniewski and the Mustangs (10-5, 5-2) on April 4 by a 1-0 score.
This time, Kaniewski (7-2) outdueled Graegin (5-3), helping Munster keep pace in a parity-filled conference. The Mustangs, 59ers, Kankakee Valley and Highland all entered Monday with two losses.
Kaniewski pitched a three-hitter, allowing all three in the third. Andrean scored only once, on Haley Huesken’s sacrifice fly, as the 59ers twice were caught stealing. The Munster junior issued a leadoff walk in the sixth, but every other inning was perfect.
“I knew I had to rely on my defense, it couldn’t be just me out there,” Kaniewski said. “The whole team, every at-bat had to be a great at-bat, every defensive play had to be spot on.”
Munster’s two runs in the first were unearned after an Andrean error, with the Mustangs also getting an infield hit on a ball the 59ers lost in the sun.
Andrean coach Glenn Eisfelder lamented the miscues.
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“It was basically us making a couple mistakes and them not,” he said. “It was still a close game like last time. The pitching was good in the first game and it was good on both sides again.
“Abby pitched terrific. I have no qualms. But they have a good pitcher, too. She’s one of the top pitchers in the area.”
Green Bay recruit Rebecca Radtke singled home an insurance run for Munster with two outs in the seventh after Nicole Howard doubled off the right-field fence with one out.
“Mimi came up with the big hit on the change-up when we needed that and Becky getting that hit in the seventh was big too,” Munster coach Beth Thornburg said. “Getting that multiple-run lead, you can relax a little bit more and know you don’t have to be perfect. You’re not as tense.”
Howard went 4-for-4 with two runs. Brody went 2-for-3, Radtke 2-for-4 and Meagan Thornburg 2-for-3. Those four accounted for all 10 of Munster’s hits after the Mustangs had four against the 59ers in the teams’ first game.
“We’ve had the hardest time hitting Graegin — we cannot score against her,” Beth Thornburg said. “We did not hit her at all last year and we obviously didn’t hit her well the first game.
“So, to be able to get a couple runs on her early was big and gave us a little bit more confidence.”
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff