BROOKINGS, S.D. - Jamie Goss set a new single-season RBI record as Western Illinois took both games of a doubleheader against South Dakota State on Friday, April 29.

The Fighting Leathernecks (19-22, 14-9) pulled themselves closer to securing a spot in The Summit League tournament with the victories as Southern Utah, which began the day in front of Western, dropped one of two games to North Dakota State.

The Jackrabbits (9-39, 6-14) were eliminated from postseason contention with the losses. The two teams will wrap up their three-game series with a single game at 1 p.m. tomorrow.

Game One - Western Illinois 3, SDSU 0

Hailey Bickford tossed a complete-game shutout and Western Illinois plated three runs in the sixth inning of a 3-0 win in the first game on Friday.

Both teams were held in check for a majority of the first contest as neither team could capitalize early on. Western Illinois was able to advance a runner to third in the fourth inning before an inning-ending groundout

The Jackrabbits had an opportunity to strike in the fourth with runners on second and third with one out, but Bickford induced two-straight groundouts to work out of the jam.

The Leathernecks would finally breakthrough in the sixth inning with three runs on three hits. Colleen Biebel led the inning off with a walk and stole second base, one of four steals in the inning.

She would advance to third on Goss' infield single and would score on Erin Schlotfeldt's infield single later in the inning. Beth Golitko's single up the middle in the next at-bat would bring in pinch runners Briana Williams and Michele Prieto to make it 3-0.

South Dakota State threatened again in the bottom of the inning by putting runners on first and second with one out, but Bickford again came through in the clutch by retiring the next two batters to end the inning.

Western Illinois looked as if it might tack on another run in the seventh, but Biebel was left stranded at third after reaching on an error earlier in the inning.

The Jackrabbits made one final attempt at a rally when two hits put runners on second and third with just one out but would come up short when Pam Nicholson lined into a double play to end the game.

Bickford (9-6) scattered seven hits over 7.0 innings to pick up the win, the fourth in her last four starts. She struck out four and did not issue a walk.

Nicholson (4-21) suffered the loss by allowing three runs on eight hits in 7.0 innings. She walked three and recorded three strikeouts in the contest.

Golitko led the Leathernecks with two RBI in a 2-for-4 effort. Goss and Schlotfeldt also finished 2-for-4 as Western outhit South Dakota State eight to seven.

Game Two - Western Illinois 6, SDSU 3

Western Illinois jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and staved off several South Dakota State rally attempts to complete the sweep of Friday's doubleheader.

Biebel got the scoring started with an RBI single that brought in Nikki Marinec from second base for the first run. Goss' RBI single in the next at bat would put Western up 2-0 before Megan Kelly's two-out single plated a third run.

South Dakota State answered with a run in the bottom of the inning with a bases loaded walk, but would leave the bases loaded to end the inning with the score 3-1.

Western Illinois would add two more runs to its total in the top of the third. Schlotfeldt's RBI double scored Goss from first and Golitko's sacrifice fly later in the inning made it 5-1.

The Jackrabbits were able to load the bases again in the bottom of the fifth and scored a run on another bases loaded walk which chased Leatherneck starter Kelsey Michelini from the circle.

Bickford entered the game in relief with the bases loaded and no outs but was able to work her way of the jam by getting three-straight groundouts.

South Dakota State added on another run in the bottom of the sixth when Nicholson scored from third on a stolen base and subsequent throw to second.

The Leathernecks plated their final run of the contest on Goss' RBI single down the left field line in the top of the seventh. It was Goss' 46th RBI of the season, breaking Cassandra Hallstrom's previous Leatherneck record of 45 RBI in a single season (2004).

Michelini (6-11) picked up the win after allowing two runs on six hits in 4.0 innings. She walked three and recorded three strikeouts on the day. Bickford earned her first career-save by allowing one run on three hits in 3.0 innings in relief.

Kori Seidlitz (5-18) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits. She walked three and fanned 13 batters in the contest.

Goss finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI while Marinec scored two runs. South Dakota State stranded 11 runners on the base paths while the Leathernecks left just four.