EAST PEORIA, Ill. - Beth Golitko and Megan Kelly hit back-to-back homers in the first inning to help Western Illinois to a 7-0 win over Bradley on Wednesday, April 6 at EastSide Centre.
The Fighting Leathernecks (11-17) used a six-run first inning to put away the Braves (8-28) for the second time in the past two seasons.
Western plated the game's first two runs on Erin Schlotfeldt's RBI single up the middle after the first three batters reached in the inning.
Golitko would bring across three more runs when she launched a 2-2 pitch over the right field fence to make it 5-0 in favor of the Leathernecks.
Kelly capped off the inning with a solo shot to left, her fourth of the season, to give Western the early 6-0 lead.
Bradley would not put a runner on base until the third inning when two Braves reached on an error and a hit batter. Kelsey Michelini would work her way out of the inning to preserve the lead.
Neither team would threaten again until Western Illinois loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning. Hannah Frenell would score on Michelini's RBI single to push the lead to 7-0.
The Braves would see their first real scoring chance come in the bottom of the fifth when they were able to runners to second and third with one out. Michelini would induce two-straight groundouts to end the threat.
Western Illinois would put two more runners on the rest of the way while Bradley was unable to put a runner on as Hailey Bickford closed out the game by striking out the final two batters she faced.
Michelini (3-8) picked up the win after giving up just two hits in 5.0 innings. She struck out one and did not issue a walk. Bickford tossed 2.0 innings in relief and did not allow a hit while striking out three.
Mackenzie Camp (3-10) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on four hits and a walk without recording an out.
Golitko led the Leathernecks with three RBI in a 1-for-4 effort while Schlotfeldt finished 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Seven different Western Illinois players either recorded a hit or scored a run. The Leathernecks stranded five base runners while the Braves left four on base.
Western Illinois returns to action in a three-game series at IPFW beginning with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
