MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois picked up two wins over Oakland to cap off a three-game series sweep on Saturday, March 5 at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium.
The Fighting Leathernecks (5-8, 3-0) picked up a 12-1 win over the Golden Grizzlies (4-13, 0-3) in the completion of a suspended game from Friday night before finishing the sweep with a 5-4 win in Saturday's regularly scheduled contest.
Western Illinois extended its winning streak to 12 games in regular-season Summit League contests dating back to the 2010 season.
Game 1 - Western Illinois 12, Oakland 1 (5 innings)
Ashley Campbell and Jamie Goss combined for seven RBI as the Leathernecks scored a season-high 12 runs in the completion of the second game of Friday's doubleheader, which was suspended due to darkness.
Western Illinois got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Goss brought Colleen Biebel home from third with an RBI single up the middle.
The Leathernecks scored four more runs in the bottom of the third to extend the lead to 5-0. Beth Golitko's one-out double plated two runs to make it 3-0 before Goss doubled home another run to push the lead to 4-0.
Hannah Frenell drew a bases loaded walk with two outs to make it 5-0 before Oakland answered back with a run in the top of the fourth on Leah DiCristofaro's RBI single.
Western Illinois would tack on seven more runs in the top of the fourth. Goss' double down the left field line brought home two runs before Campbell hit a three-run triple to right to make it 10-1.
The game was suspended in the next at bat due to darkness with a runner on third and one out. The game resumed just before noon on Saturday morning and the Leathernecks scored two more runs in the inning to make it 12-1.
Campbell would retire would record strikeouts in two of the final three outs of the fifth inning to seal the run-rule shortened victory for Western.
Goss finished 3-for-4 and tied a career-high with four RBI. Six other Leathernecks finished with one hit while Biebel, Golitko and Nikki Marinec each scored two runs.
Hailey Bickford (1-1) picked up the first win of her career after allowing just one run on four hits in 3.1 innings. She walked one and struck out two. Campbell tossed 1.2 shutout innings in relief and allowed two hits while striking out two.
Allison Tansel (1-5) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits in 2.1 innings. The Golden Grizzlies committed five errors in the contest.
Western Illinois outhit Oakland 12 to six and left seven runners on base while the Golden Grizzlies stranded six of their own. Biebel also picked up a stolen base in the game.
Game 2 - Western Illinois 5, Oakland 4 (10 innings)
Western Illinois trailed on two separate occasions before Goss hit a solo-homer in the bottom of the tenth inning to complete the comeback and give the Leathernecks a series sweep in the third and final game of the weekend.
Oakland got on the board with an RBI bunt single in the first inning before Western tied the game on Marinec's solo-homer to lead of the bottom of the first.
The Golden Grizzlies would jump back on top with a solo shot off the bat of Erika Polidori to lead off the top of the third before the Leathernecks took the lead with two runs in the fifth.
Megan Kelly put Western Illinois up 3-2 with a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the fifth and held Oakland scoreless in the sixth inning.
The Golden Grizzlies would plate two runs on three hits in the top of the seventh to take a 4-3 lead. Megan McQueen led off the inning with a solo homer before Alyssa Shriver's RBI single gave Oakland the lead.
Biebel led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk to put the tying run on base. Oakland starter Marisa Everitt sat down the next hitters, but Kelly came up with yet another clutch hit as her double down the left field line brought in the tying run.
The Golden Grizzlies were unable to push across the go-ahead run despite putting runners on base in both the eighth and ninth innings.
Goss stepped to the plate to lead off the bottom of the tenth and launched a towering shot over the left field fence to complete the series sweep.
Campbell (3-3) picked up the win by tossing 7.0 innings in relief. She allowed two runs on four hits with one walk and recorded four strikeouts.
Everitt (1-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing five runs in 10 hits in 9.0 innings. She walked just one and recorded 13 strikeouts.
Goss and Kelly each finished with two hits and Biebel scored two runs and stole a base. Kelly tied a season and career-high with three RBI.
The Fighting Leathernecks will return to action with a doubleheader at Arizona State beginning at 3 p.m. in Tuesday before facing UNLV at 5 pm. on Wednesday. Western Illinois will return to Summit League action for a three-game series at Southern Utah next weekend.
