Lockport’s Carly Dundee deals gem in SouthWest Suburban showdown

Facing a hot-hitting Joliet West team Friday, Lockport pitcher Carly Dundee was more than ready to take the field in the seventh holding a slim, one-run advantage.

Just the same, Dundee isn’t going to turn down insurance runs.

The Porters put up a four-spot in the bottom of the sixth to blow open a close game in host Lockport’s 7-2 win over Joliet West in a SouthWest Suburban Blue showdown.

“It was great to have that lead,” Dundee said. “We’ve had games where we lost that one-run lead, but it felt good to keep it and come out strong that last inning.”

Dundee pitched a gem for Lockport (6-4, 1-0), going the distance with five strikeouts while scattering five hits and a walk.

After both teams scored a run apiece in the first and second, Lockport’s Brittany Bickelman broke the tie with an RBI single that scored Jordan Arndt.

The Porters were far from done backing up Dundee. Emma Carter (2-for-3), Nicole Troha and Haylie Arndt strung together three singles to load the bases in the bottom of the sixth.

“Those insurance runs were necessary because Carly had been so good for us,” Haylie said. “We wanted to be able to breathe a little bit.”

That breath came courtesy of Jordan Arndt (two runs), whose two-run single up the middle gave Lockport a 5-2 lead.

“My first couple at-bats I was really ahead of the ball,” Jordan said. “I tried to wait on the ball that time and let it come to me.”

Next up, Dundee punctuated the outburst with a two-run blast to left center.

“I’m overanxious at the plate sometimes and my coaches just told me to get out of my head,” Dundee said. “I was able to, and it paid off.”

Dundee retired Joliet West (7-4, 0-1) in order in the seventh to end the game. Having scored two runs through two innings, the Tigers only managed two hits the rest of the way.

“We came out strong, but [Dundee] adjusted quicker than we did,” West coach Heather Suca said. “We were never able to string hits together.”

Karina Vargas had a solo homer and double for Joliet West.