MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois softball hit a combined 16 hits and nine RBIs with two home runs for two conference victories from IUPUI, Friday, in a doubleheader at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium.

The Westerwinds (10-6, 2-0 Mid-Continent Conference) took a 5-1 victory over the Jaguars (6-16, 0-2 Mid-Con) in game one with a combined nine hits and three RBIs. Sophomore Westerwinds' pitcher Kamren Ferguson held IUPUI to only run in the game, which was put on the board in the first inning with the Jaguars' only triple of the day.

“Kamren settled in and pitched a phenomenal first game,” Van Vlymen said.

Western Illinois scored in five of the six innings at bat with Lindsey Hession going 2-for-4 and scoring two, Samantha Valentine going 2-for-3 with one double and three RBIs and Erin Schlotfeldt going 2-for-3 with one double.

Pitching a full game, Ferguson (5-4) recorded the win, while IUPUI's Breanna Howell suffered the loss. Howell (4-6) allowed nine hits and walked only one in six full innings of work.

In the nightcap, Western Illinois' senior pitcher Kim King held IUPUI to only two hits in four innings and Courtney Jacobson closed the 6-1 victory over the Jaguars.

“Kim had a great start with four solid innings," Van Vlymen said. "Courtney came in and had an awesome relief, really making the batters swing at her pitch.”

With the tying run on base in the top of the fifth inning, Jacobson entered the game and struck out the final batter stranding the tying run on third base. Western Illinois padded its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure a 5-1 advantage off a Hession double and a two-run home run by Garcia.

A Mason single scored Douglas in the sixth inning to add one final insurance run to the board and the game was called off in the top of the seventh inning due to darkness.

In game two Hession was 2-for-3 with one RBI, while DePolo, Garcia and Green each went 1-for-3. DePolo hit her first collegiate home run and Garcia recorded her second on the season. Lauren Furgala dominated the infield at shortstop recording eight putouts and six assists with no errors, while first basemen Valentine had 18 putouts.

King (2-5) recorded the win, striking out three and allowing only two hits in four and one-third innings, while Jacobson allowed only one hit and struck out 3-of-7 batters faced.

On the day Hession went 4-for-7, Green went 3-for-6 and Schlotfeldt went 2-for-4. The Westerwinds, who started the day atop the Mid-Con for stolen bases, went 5-for-5 in the category and held the Jaguars to 1-for-2 in steals.

“We definitely showed clutch hitting today,” Van Vlymen said. “It was exciting to have two home runs in one game. We look to come out tomorrow with the same intensity and fight as we did today.”

Western Illinois will battle IUPUI in the final game of the three-game conference series, Saturday at noon.