MACOMB, Ill. - Nikki Marinec's two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted Western Illinois to a 10-9 victory over IUPUI on Friday, March 25 at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium.
The Fighting Leathernecks (8-13, 5-2) were able to rally after the Jaguars (9-15, 4-3) overcame an early four-run deficit to take an 8-5 lead in the late innings.
Western Illinois battled back to tie things up with three runs in the seventh before Marinec's homer capped off a furious comeback in extra innings.
The Leathernecks jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Marinec led things off with a single and advanced to third on Beth Golitko's single to right two batters later.
Both players would come across to score on Jamie Goss' two-run single through the right side. Erin Schlotfeldt would cap off the first-inning scoring with a two run blast to center, her fourth of the year and second in as many games.
IUPUI answered with a single run in the top of the second. The Jaguars got on the board when Julie Love single through the left side with one out to score a run.
Western Illinois would strike again in the bottom of the third when Goss scored on a passed ball after she tripled to the right field corner with two outs.
The Jaguars scored two runs in the fourth on Alicia Brewer's two-run shot to center and tacked on two more in the sixth on a pair of RBI singles to tie the game at 5-5.
The Leathernecks were able to advance a runner to third in the bottom of the sixth, but Briana Williams was caught off third base for the final out of the inning.
IUPUI took advantage of Western's inability to score by plating three runs in the top of the seventh to take an 8-5 lead. Chelsie Hale led off the inning with a solo homer to left and Brewer doubled to right later in the inning to bring around two more runs.
Western Illinois would answer with three runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. Michelle Prieto led off with a double and came around to score on Marinec's two-bagger to left.
Goss doubled with two outs to bring Marinec home later in the inning before Schlotfeldt's single scored pinch runner Anna Copeland from second to tie the game at 8-8.
IUPUI looked to deal the final blow when Joy Perry walked and advanced to third on two passed balls before scoring on a rundown play to make it 9-8 in the eighth.
Hailey Bickford walked to lead off the bottom of the inning and give the Leathernecks new life. Emma Jarrell popped up to third in the next at-bat and Preito struck out swinging to put the Leathernecks down to their final out.
Marinec stepped to the plate and lined a two-run shot to left that wrapped just around the foul pole to gibe the Leathernecks a walk-off win.
Bickford (3-2) picked up the win after allowing nine runs (seven earned) in 10 hits in 7.1 innings of work. She struck out four and walked five while setting a new career-high in innings pitched.
Samantha Bumbaugh (3-4) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on three hits in 1.2 innings in relief. She waked one and recorded three strikeouts.
Goss, Marinec and Schlotfeldt each finished with three hits and three RBI. Marinec set a new career-high with her third homer of the season while Schlotfeldt tied her previous career-high with her fourth home run this year.
IUPUI was paced by Brewer's 4-for-5 effort. She scored once and drove in a game-high five runs as the Jaguars finished with 12 hits to the Leathernecks' 11.
Western Illinois committed four errors while IUPUI committed just one. The Jaguars stranded 10 runners on base while the Leathernecks left just four runners on the bags.
The two teams will conclude their three game series with a doubleheader beginning tomorrow at noon. Both games can be heard live on WIUS 88.3 FM and can be seen live on Rocky Vision.
