Jared Dunnett didn’t flinch.
The senior right-hander had no choice, given less than a split-second to react in coming off the mound.
And that’s a fitting way to describe Naperville North on the whole at the moment.
Dunnett’s quick thinking Wednesday on Aaron Staehely’s potential game-tying bunt in the sixth inning helped spur the Huskies to a 3-2 victory over Benet.
“I was throwing a curveball because I knew it was a good hit-and-run situation or a bunt situation,” Dunnett said. “(Staehely) ended up putting it down, but he got it right to me. The runner wasn’t there quick enough, so I flipped it right to (catcher) Ryan (Bottens).
“I wasn’t really surprised. Teams have done it to us before and we kind of messed it up a little bit earlier in the year, so we work on it a lot in practice. We were definitely ready to field as a pitcher.”
Dunnett shut the door with two innings of relief for Huskies (6-2).
It was Dunnett’s second save. He came through with his bat as well, delivering a two-out, RBI single in the top of the sixth.
“In that at-bat, I think I was up in the count,” he said. “So I was looking fastball but he ended up hanging a curveball right down the middle. Just hit it hard up the middle, which is what we always try to do.”
Brendan Lacey’s fourth-inning RBI double brought home Mike Bruebach to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead. Bruebach had tripled.
Naperville North never lost focus, even after only scoring one run on a bases-loaded walk in the first inning.
“The timely hits are huge,” Lacey said. “Two strikes, you’re just looking to put a ball in play opposite field. Got a 1-2 curveball, just took it the other way.
“There’s so much perseverance with this team. The leadership on this team is incredible and the attitude has been great.”
The Redwings (4-5) saw a four-game winning streak end because of the Huskies’ sound execution in timely spots.
A combined six innings of solid relief by freshman Jack Rodi and senior Connor Hincks gave Benet’s offense opportunities.
Collin Berry and Staehely both had RBI singles for the Redwings.
“Not mad at all about our guys,” Benet coach Scott Lawler said. “I thought their effort was outstanding — both sides. It was just one of those games where it could have gone either way.
“(Hincks) kept them off-balance. He did a nice job. … A couple plays didn’t go our way — first inning and a couple other innings. But that’s baseball.”
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Blake Baumgartner is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.