MACOMB, Ill. - Julie DePolo was 5-for-6 on the day with a home run, two RBI and one run scored as Western Illinois dropped a double header to Saint Louis, 3-2 and 6-4, Tuesday.
A pair of hits and a throwing error allowed the Billikens (21-31) the first run of game one. The Westerwinds (8-30) tied the game at 1-1 in the third inning as
Colleen Biebel stole second and
Britt Mason went home on the throw.
Saint Louis pulled away from Western in the sixth inning off a hit and two errors, for a 3-1 lead.
The Westerwinds attempted to catch the Billikens in the seventh inning as a DePolo single down the left field line scored
Lauren Furgala, who tripled to lead off the inning, but it wasn't enough as Western fell short, 3-2.
Courtney Jacobson (2-8) suffered the loss in seven innings, allowing four hits and striking out five. Stacy Gillette (6-13) recorded the win, allowing seven hits and striking out four. The Westerwinds had four errors to SLU's one.
"Our defense really struggled today," Western Illinois head coach
Holly Van Vlymen said. "Julie did a great job at third and there were a few shining moments, but we need to polish it up before this weekend."
In game two, a pair of hits and a pair of errors opened the Billikens' first inning of play for a 3-0 lead.
DePolo homered to left field in the bottom of the second to put Western on the board for the first time.
SLU answered back in the top of the third putting runners on first and third and scoring a run on a fielder's choice. In Western's at bat,
Nikki Marinec had a sac fly to score Biebel, who singled to lead off the inning.
Up 4-2 in the top of the fifth inning, a home run, a single and a triple scored two more runs for the Billikens.
Trying to close the 6-2 gap with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Marinec scored Biebel with a single to left field.
Racheal Heagney doubled to left field and was called out in the attempt to stretch the double into a triple. Marinec scored on the double for a final score of 6-4.
Loren Floccari (6-13) recorded the win in five innings, allowing eight hits and striking out five.
Lori Pankratz (4-11) suffered the loss in seven innings, striking out two batters and allowing seven hits. The Westerwinds had three errors to the Billikens' one.
"Pitchers try to do it all if the defense isn't there and both pitchers did a nice job today," Van Vlymen said. "You have to rebound from losses and come back with the mentality that you have nothing to lose. Seniors need to relax and play their game and the underclassmen need to step up for their seniors."
The Western Illinois softball team travels to Iowa for a 7 p.m. game, Wednesday, April 30.
