No. 9/14 Missouri sweeps Leathernecks in doubleheader action

MACOMB, Ill. - No. 9/14 Missouri swept the Fighting Leatherneck softball team in a doubleheader contest on Wednesday, May 5 in front of 513 spectators at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium.

Western (30-17) lost the first game of the doubleheader with the Tigers (43-9) by a score of 5-1 before dropping the second contest, 7-1.

Game 1: Missouri 5, WIU 1
The game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when Missouri scored three runs on three hits to take a 3-0 lead. Lindsey Muller hit an RBI double to right field to score the first run of the inning before Gina Schneider hit a two-run homer to center field.

The Tigers pushed their lead to five (5-0) in the top of the fifth on Marla Schweisberger two-RBI double to right center.

Western scored their lone run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth to bring the game within four (5-1) on an Erin Schlotfeldt RBI single to left field, scoring Beth Golitko.

The Leathernecks out hit the Tigers by one in the game (8-7), paced by Golitko who was 3-for-3 at the plate. Julie DePolo and Schlotfeldt both added two hits.

Missouri committed two more errors in the contest (3-1) and left two less runners stranded on the base paths than the Leathernecks (9-7).

Kamren Ferguson (18-10) recorded the loss in the circle, tossing three strikeouts and walking four.

Game 2: Missouri 7, WIU 1
Game two showed reminisce of game one as the contest remained scoreless until the Tigers scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Missouri took the three-run advantage (3-0) on a Schweisberger three-run homer to center field.

The Leathernecks retaliated in the bottom of the inning, scoring their only run of the game on a RBI by Jamie Goss to score DePolo who reached on a triple to right center on the previous play. DePolo's run set a new school record in career runs scored (123), passing Western Illinois Hall of Famer Venus Taylor (1994-97). The 123 career runs also ranks 11th all-time in Summit League history.

“What's great about the runs scored record is that my teammates did all of the hard work, I just score the runs,” said DePolo. “I have trust in all of the girls hitting behind me to drive me in.”

The Tigers added three more runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-1 lead, scoring three runs on five hits in the inning.

Missouri pushed its lead to six (7-1) in the top of the seventh on a Nicole Hudson solo home run to right field.

Lori Pankratz (9-6) took the loss in the circle, striking out four and walking five through 5.1 innings before being relieved by freshman Kelsey Michelini. The southpaw pitched the final 1.2 innings, allowing three hits and a run.

Western was out hit by six (10-4) in the contest and left two less runners on base (7-5) than the Tigers. Both teams committed an error in the game.

DePolo, Lauren Furgala, Nikki Marinec and Schlotfeldt all collected one hit in the contest.

The Leathernecks finish out the regular-season on May 7-8, playing host to Southern Utah before traveling to Fargo, N.D., for The Summit League Tournament on May 14-15. Western earned the No. 1 seed for the tournament when they won their second consecutive regular-season title in the series sweep of Oakland on April 30 - May 1.

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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