Conor Essenburg was nearly untouchable Monday, striking out 11 and tossing a no-hitter to lead Lincoln-Way West to a 10-0 shutout of Homewood-Flossmoor in five innings.
Essenburg walked just two and allowed no hits or runs in a dominant start on the mound for the Warriors. The right-hander got all the support he needed in a six-run third inning that broke the game wide open.
The scoring burst was highlighted by RBI singles from Peyton Globke, Carson Paulas and Lucas Acevedo, with Acevedo driving in two. Quinten Lange started the scoring in the first with an RBI single, and Jackson Mansker added a solo home run in the fourth. Globke also doubled in a run later that inning.
Lincoln-Way West collected 15 hits in the win. Acevedo and Paulas each had three hits, while Mansker, Acevedo and Globke drove in two runs apiece. Paulas also stole two bases, and the defense remained flawless behind Essenburg, committing no errors. Catcher Owen Weber led the team with 11 defensive plays.
Homewood-Flossmoor starter Henry Humes allowed nine runs (three earned) and struck out four over four innings.
Lincoln-Way West (12-4) is set to face Sandburg on Wednesday.