Leathernecks complete series sweep of Oakland, capture regular-season title

ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Western Illinois softball team defeated Oakland University, 2-0, to complete the series sweep and capture the Summit League regular-season title on Saturday, May 1.

“Our team has played well all year,” said Western Illinois head coach Holly Van Vlymen. “Our girls have came through in the clutch when they have needed to all season. One of their goals at the beginning of the year was to win the title and I am proud of them for achieving their goal.”

The game remained scoreless until the top of the seventh inning when Jamie Goss hit an RBI double to right center, scoring Julie DePolo and giving the Fighting Leathernecks (30-15, 16-2 Summit League) a 1-0 lead over the Golden Grizzlies (15-32, 7-11 Summit League). Sandy Moore pinch ran on the following play and scored the second run of the inning on a Lauren Furgala double to center field to push Western's advantage to 2-0.

Oakland retaliated in the bottom of the seventh by collecting a hit and capitalizing on a Leatherneck error to get runners on base, but senior ace Kamren Ferguson struck out Abbie Richardson to end the game and complete the series sweep.

Ferguson (18-9) picked up the win from the circle, throwing six strikeouts and only allowing four hits in the contest while walking two.

The Leathernecks only recorded three hits as Furgala, Goss and Erin Schlotfeldt all collected a hit.

Western only left two runners on base to Oakland's six, but committed three errors in the contest.

The Leathernecks close out the regular-season with a home doubleheader against No. 10/15 Missouri on May 5 before playing host to Southern Utah in a three-game series on May 7-8.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#27 Sandy Moore: OF; 5' 1"; Freshman; S/R

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#27 Sandy Moore
: 5' 1"; Freshman; S/R
: OF