Leathernecks split doubleheader with Bison

FARGO, N.D. - The Fighting Leatherneck softball team split a doubleheader with North Dakota State on Friday, April 16 at the Ellig Sports Complex.

Western (24-13, 10-1 Summit League) dropped the first contest, 7-4, before bouncing back in game two to defeat the Bison (23-20, 8-6 Summit League) by a score of 4-2.

Game 1: NDSU 7, Western Illinois 4
With the game tied at two in the bottom of the third, the Bison scored two runs on an RBI double by Brea Konz and a Kamren Ferguson wild pitch to take a 4-2 lead. North Dakota State would add another run in the bottom of the fourth on a Melissa Chmielewski home run, pushing their lead to three.

Julie DePolo hit a solo home run to center field in the top of the fifth to bring the game within two (5-3), but the Bison scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to take a four-run lead (7-3) on an RBI singles by Becca Gift and Richel Briones.

The Leathernecks battled back in the top of the seventh as a Lori Pankratz solo home run brought the game within three (7-4), but back-to-back strikeouts by Erin Schlotfeldt and DePolo ended the comeback and gave Western their first conference loss of the year.

Western got on the scoreboard early, scoring a run in the top of the first as Bison pitcher Whitney Johnson walked Beth Golitko with the bases loaded. North Dakota State responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs on two hits and one error.

The Leathernecks were out hit by four (7-3) in the contest and left three runners on base. All three of Western's hits were solo home runs.

Ferguson (13-8) took the loss in the circle, striking out four and walking two.

Game 2: Western Illinois 4, NDSU 2
Trailing by one run (2-1) heading into the top of the seventh, the Leathernecks scored three runs on three hits to comeback and take a 4-2 lead. Jamie Goss started rally with a lead-off single to center field before Lauren Furgala hit a two-RBI home run over the left-field fence, giving Western a 3-2 lead. Golitko followed Furgala's home run with one of her own to push the Leatherneck lead to two (4-2).

“We all got fired up after Jamie got that single to start the rally,” said Furgala. “We got the extra runs we needed late in the game and that helped us out.”

Two strikeouts by Pankratz and a ground out by Chmielewski in the bottom of the seventh sealed the victory for the Leathernecks.

“I felt good today in the circle,” said Pankratz. “I just tried to pitch my best. My team had my back all game and they did a great job.”

The game remained scoreless until DePolo hit an RBI double in the top of the fourth to score Nikki Marinec and give the Leathernecks a 1-0 lead. The Bison responded in the bottom of the sixth, taking a one-run lead (2-1) on RBI singles by Konz and Maryssa McKenzie.

After only collecting three hits in game one against North Dakota State, the Leathernecks collected 11 hits in game two lead by Pankratz who was 3-for-4 at the plate. Furgala was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run while DePolo and Goss both added two hits.

“We are a great hitting team,” said Western Illinois head coach Holly Van Vlymen. “If they are going to throw the same pitcher in back-to-back games, our players are going to make the appropriate adjustments from the plate and they did that in the second game.”

The Bison, who lead the league in fielding percentage, had three errors in the game while Western had one.

Pankratz (8-4) picked up the win, throwing a season-high 10 strikeouts and walking two.

The Leathernecks are back in action on Saturday, April 17 at noon against the Bison to finish the conference series before heading to Iowa City, Iowa, on Sunday, April 18 for a single contest with Iowa at 1 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#22 Kamren Ferguson: P; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

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

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

#6 Erin Schlotfeldt: C/DP; 5' 9"; Junior; R/R

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

#12 Nikki Marinec: C; 5' 8"; Junior; R/R

#7 Beth Golitko: OF; 5' 7"; Junior; L/L

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

Players Mentioned

#22 Kamren Ferguson
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: P

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

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

#6 Erin Schlotfeldt
: 5' 9"; Junior; R/R
: C/DP

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

#12 Nikki Marinec
: 5' 8"; Junior; R/R
: C

#7 Beth Golitko
: 5' 7"; Junior; L/L
: OF

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