MACOMB, Ill.  -  The Western Illinois softball team won its series opening doubleheader with IUPUI on Tuesday afternoon at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium.

The Westerwinds (27-17, 17-2 Summit League) took the first game of the doubleheader, 8-0 in six innings, and defeated the Jaguars (3-49, 1-22 Summit League) by a score of 3-2 in game two of the doubleheader.

Game 1: Western Illinois 8, IUPUI 0 (6 innings)

The Westerwinds jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second and never looked back. After a Beth Golitko RBI triple down the left-field line scored the first run of inning, Lori Pankratz hit an RBI double to the warning track in center field to score the second run of inning.

Two more Western runners crossed home plate in the bottom of the fifth on a Jamie Goss RBI single to left field and wild pitch by the Jaguar pitcher, pushing the lead to four.

In the bottom of the sixth, Julie DePolo hit an RBI single to left field to start a four-run inning for the Westerwinds. Goss hit a sacrifice fly to center field on the next play to score Golitko for the second run. The last two runs of the inning came on a two-RBI single through the left side by Lauren Furgala, making the score 8-0 and ending the game due to the run rule.

Western out hit the Jaguars by 10 (11-1) and made one less error (2-1) in the victory.

Western used a balanced offensive attack as they have done all year, getting a hit from seven different players as well as five runs and five RBIs from five different Westerwinds. DePolo paced the offense as she went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and an RBI. Colleen Biebel and Golitko both added two hits and two runs.

Kamren Ferguson (16-7) picked up the win in the circle, throwing six strikeouts and only allowing one hit in six innings of action.

Game 2: Western Illinois 3, IUPUI 2

The Westerwinds waited until the bottom of the seventh to score the game-winning run as Golitko slid into home plate on a Michelle Prieto hard hit ground ball to the Jaguar short stop, taking a 3-2 victory on the last play of the game.

Lori Pankratz struck out four of the first five batters she faced in the game before giving up a home run to Laura Wilcox in the top of the second, giving IUPUI and early 1-0 lead.

Down two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Ashley Campbell hit her seventh home run of the year as she hit a shot over the scoreboard in left-center field to tie the game at one.

Pankratz scored a run in the bottom of the fifth on a throwing error by the Jaguar short stop trying to throw Biebel out at first base, giving Western the 2-1 advantage.

After Campbell replaced Pankratz in the circle in the top of the sixth, the Jaguars tied the game at two on a fielding error by Campbell as she misplayed a hard hit ground ball by Wilcox.

Western out hit IUPUI by two (7-5) in the victory and committed the same amount of errors (1) and left just as many runners stranded on base (6).

Pankratz paced the offense as she went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored a run. Campbell added a hit, a run and an RBI and Golitko chipped in with one hit and a run.

Campbell (6-2) picked up the win from the circle, throwing one strikeout and allowing two hits in the last two innings of the game. Pankratz threw six strikeouts and gave up three hits in the first five innings of work.

Postgame notes
In her last five appearances, Ferguson has recorded four shutouts and has thrown a one-hitter on two occasions. The Clinton, Ill., native has only allowed one earned run in her last 46 innings of work, posting a .130 ERA while striking out 30 batters.

Three different Western batters are currently on some impressive hit streaks. Pankratz is riding an eight game hits streak while Furgala has picked up a hit in her last six games and Golitko has registered a hit in her last five, respectively.

Postgame quotes
Head coach Holly Van Vlymen

On the wins against IUPUI
“It was very important for us to play well today. They (IUPUI) are a good ball club and they have a talented defense and pitching staff. I am proud of our girls for staying confident, finding their pitch and playing their game.”

On the bottom of the batting order getting hits
“It has been huge for us in the last few weeks and in today's games, the bottom of the line up really sparked the top of the line up. Once our team starts hitting, it becomes contagious. Beth (Golitko) and Lori (Pankratz) sparked the offense today and they did a nice job of getting some hits and scoring some runs.”

On our pitching staff
“I am really proud of our pitchers as they were pitching ahead this afternoon. Lori's ball was really moving and I think it was the hardest she has thrown all year. Kamren (Ferguson) also did a great as she only allowed one hit in the first game. Other than the first batter Ashley (Campbell) faced, she did a great job after she got her feet under herself and relaxed.”

Junior co-captain Lauren Furgala
On the wins

“We knew we could not take IUPUI lightly because we knew they were going to play us tough. In the first game, Kamren threw a great game and our offense was on. In the second game, we struggled to hit a little, but we stuck with it, never got down and started stringing hits together. (Michelle) Prieto, Beth (Golitko) and Pankratz all came up big in the last inning when we needed them to.”