Leatherneck softball rallies to defeat Arkansas

MINNEAPOLIS - The Fighting Leatherneck softball team rallied to score four runs in the last two innings of play to defeat Arkansas, 5-4, on Friday afternoon.

“Lori (Pankratz) did a great job in the circle, Nikki (Marinec) called a good game and the defense was solid as well,” said Western Illinois head coach Holly Van Vlymen. “It was just a great all around effort from everyone defensively.”

With the game tied at four in the bottom of the seventh, Lori Pankratz sparked the offense with a single to second base. After freshman Kelsey Michelini was hit by a pitch on the next at bat to give the Leathernecks (2-1) two base runners without any outs in the inning, freshman Alex Pflieger laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Colleen Biebel was hit by a pitch on the following play to load the bases before Julie DePolo came through in the clutch and put the ball in play to score Pankratz and tie the game at four. Jamie Goss then hit a game-winning RBI single to left field to give the Leathernecks their second win of the season.

“I went into that last at bat really confident,” said Goss. “Lori (Pankratz) told me before I went to bat that she knew I could end the game and my teammates just had a lot of confidence in me.”

Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth, the Leathernecks turned the game around on back-to-back RBI singles from Lauren Furgala and Ashley Campbell to tie the game at three. The Razorbacks (0-1) retaliated in the top of the seventh as Miranda Dixon hit an RBI single to left field to score Jessica Bachkora and give Arkansas a 4-3 advantage.

Arkansas got on the scoreboard early, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Western chipped into the Razorback lead in the bottom of the second on a Pankratz RBI single, making the score 3-1.

Western out hit Arkansas by three (11-8), led by a 3-for-3 day at the plate by Biebel. It was a balanced effort for the Leathernecks as seven different players recorded a hit in the victory.

Pankratz (2-0) picked up the win from the circle, throwing seven strikeouts and giving up four earned runs.

“Our team never got down, even when we fell behind in the top of the seventh,” said Van Vlymen. “I think it just made them even more determined to win. Kelsey Michelini and Alex Pflieger both gave us a huge boost in their first collegiate at-bats to help us win the game.”

Western continues play at the Metrodome Tournament at 9 p.m. tonight against Big Ten foe Iowa.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Lauren Furgala: IF; 5' 3"; Senior; S/R

#15 Lori Pankratz: P/IF; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

#25 Julie DePolo: IF; 5' 4"; Senior; R/R

#9 Colleen Biebel: OF; 5' 2"; Junior; L/R

#33 Jamie Goss: IF; 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

#24 Ashley Campbell: OF/P; 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R

#21 Kelsey Michelini: P/IF; 6' 1"; Freshman; R/L

#18 Alex Pflieger: C; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#8 Lauren Furgala
: 5' 3"; Senior; S/R
: IF

#15 Lori Pankratz
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: P/IF

#25 Julie DePolo
: 5' 4"; Senior; R/R
: IF

#9 Colleen Biebel
: 5' 2"; Junior; L/R
: OF

#33 Jamie Goss
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#24 Ashley Campbell
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R
: OF/P

#21 Kelsey Michelini
: 6' 1"; Freshman; R/L
: P/IF

#18 Alex Pflieger
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: C