AMES, Iowa – The Western Illinois Softball team dropped both games on the second day of the Iowa State Cyclone Invitational at Berstrom Indoor Facility on Saturday, Feb. 12.The Fighting Leathernecks (0-4) dropped their first game to Valparaiso (1-1) by an 9-4 score in the first game before falling to Iowa State (3-0) for the second time in two days by a score of 9-1.
Western Illinois will look to rebound tomorrow when they face Creighton at 9 a.m. in their fifth and final game of the Cyclone Invitational. The Leathernecks will travel to Auburn, Ala., next weekend for the Auburn Tiger Invitational.
Game 1 - Valparaiso 9, Western Illinois 4
Western Illinois jumped out to an early 2-0 lead but Valparaiso used a seven-run second inning to send the Leathernecks to their third loss of the season by a 9-4 final.
The Leathernecks scored in the top of the first inning when Briana Williams walked and stole second to start the game. Jamie Goss drove in Williams with a one-out RBI single and advanced to second on Kelsey Michelini's single in the next at bat. Hailey Bickford led off the top of the second inning with a single before advancing to second on Hannah Frenell's sacrifice bunt. Michele Prieto's groundout to third base in the next at bat moved Bickford to third base. A walk by Williams in the next at bat put two runners on with two outs. The freshman infielder would steal second and Bickford would score on the throw down by the catcher to make it 2-0.
The Crusaders would explode in the bottom half of the inning with seven runs on nine hits. Tori Brown singled to start the inning before stealing second and later scoring on the throw to first on Jessie Marinec's single.
Valpo would tie the game on Angie Doerffler's RBI double two batters later. A two-run double by Sara Strickland would give the Crusaders a 4-2 lead with no outs.
The Leathernecks would surrender three more runs following a pitching change. Valparaiso would plate runs on a single and a wild pitch before scoring the final run of the inning on a ground-rule double.
The Crusaders would tack on another run with Amanda Wisniewski's leadoff homer in the bottom of the third. Western Illinois would close the gap to 8-3 when Bickford scored on a Williams' RBI single in the top of the fourth.
Emma Jarrell would score in the fifth inning on an error by Valparaiso to cut the lead to 8-4. The Leathernecks had a chance to cut the deficit to two but Williams grounded out with runners in scoring position to end the inning. Valparaiso answered with a single run in the bottom of the inning on Jennifer Hermanson's RBI single. The Crusaders almost scored twice on the play but Beth Golitko made a laser throw from right field to record the final out at home plate. The Leathernecks would go down in order in the final two innings. Western Illinois was outhit 16 to eight in the contest and left nine runners on base.
Bickford (0-1) took the loss in her first collegiate start by allowing five runs on seven hits while recording one strikeout. Michelini allowed four runs on nine hits in 5.0 innings of relief. She walked two and struck out four.
Sam McGee (1-0) picked up the win for Valparaiso. She allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits in four innings. Shaleigh Jansen recorded three strikeouts in three innings of relief for her first save of the year.
Bickford and Michelini each went 2-for-4 while Williams was 1-for-2 with an RBI, one run scored and two stolen bases.
Game 2 - Iowa State 9, Western Illinois 1
Iowa State jumped out to an early lead for the second day in a row against the Leathernecks. The Cyclones plated three runs in the top of the first inning on four hits and an error.
The first two runs came across on two two-out RBI singles from Tori Torrescano and Dalyn Varela. The third run came across on an error by Western Illinois shortstop Hannah Frenell. The Leathernecks were able to get the first two batters on base in the bottom of the inning, but a 4-6-3 double play ended the inning after Jamie Goss popped up to the catcher for the first out. Iowa State would blow the game open with six runs in the top of the second highlighted by Varela's three-run homer with one out. Bianca Lopez also contributed to the scoring with a two-run double prior to the home run.
Western Illinois would get on the board in the bottom of the inning when Ashley Campbell line a solo-shot over the center field wall for her first homer of the season. The Cyclones would shut the Leathernecks down the rest of the way, allowing just three hits over the final three innings of play to seal the victory.
Campbell (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing nine runs (seven earned) on nine hits in 1.2 innings. She walked two and struck out one.
Michelini tossed 3.1 shutout innings in relief, allowing four hits while walking one and striking out two. Frenell led the Leathernecks at the plate with a 2-for-2 effort.
Breeanna Holliday (1-0) picked up the win by allowing just one run on six hits in 5.0 innings of work. She walked two and struck out one.
The Cyclones were led at the plate by Varela who finished 3-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored.
Western Illinois was outhit 13 to six and committed three errors while Iowa State committed none.
