AMES, Iowa - The Fighting Leatherneck softball squad (1-1) opened regular season play Saturday (Feb. 11) with a split on day one of the Ramada UNI-Dome Tournament hosted by Iowa State. Western Illinois dropped game one to Drake 3-2 before bouncing back to record a 4-0 win over North Dakota.

Game #1: Drake 3, Western Illinois Softball 2
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 - 4 p.m.

Western Illinois (0-1) dropped a back-and-forth battle, 3-2, against the Drake Bulldogs (1-0) in the team's 2012 season opener.

The game remained scoreless until the third when Drake's Amy Pierce recorded a one-out single through the right side. During the next at-bat, Pierce stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Leatherneck pitcher Hailey Bickford recorded the strike out. Following a Hayley Nybo walk that put runners on first and third, a wild pitch allowed Pierce to score from third. Bickford recorded a strike out to close out the inning with the Bulldogs up 1-0.

The Leathernecks fought back in the top of the fourth inning via a lead-off single and stolen base out of freshman Sammy Marshall. Fellow freshman KC Dunne laid down a bunt to advance the runner and reached on an error, scoring Marshall from second to knot the game at one. The Bulldog defense ended the offensive charge with two fly-outs.

After a scoreless fifth, Western Illinois cashed in on a two-out rally. Senior Jamie Goss drew a walk, followed by back-to-back singles from sophomore Meg Kelly and senior Ashley Campbell. With bases loaded, assistant coach Liz Young called on freshman Lia Romeo to pinch hit. She was hit by a pitch and awarded first, plating Goss for the lead 2-1. A fly out ended the Leatherneck threat with the bases loaded.

Bickford started the bottom of the sixth with a strike out, then gave up a walk. Drake's Vande Wall doubled down the right field line to advance runners to second and third before another walk loaded the bases. Bulldog Liz Buck put the ball in play to third and reached on a fielder's choice with a Leatherneck error allowing a run to score. A wild pitch followed increasing Drake's lead 3-2.

The Leathernecks tried to spark a two-out rally in the top of the seventh with another single/stolen base combination out of Marshall, but the effort ended with a line-out.

Western Illinois tallied four total hits, two coming from Marshall in her first collegiate competition. Kelly and Campbell each recorded one. Bickford took the loss giving up two earned runs in her complete game appearance. She fanned five while giving up five hits and six walks.

"We're a better team than that offensively," assistant coach Liz Young said. "We need to have more confidence in our pitch selection, attack the first pitch we know we can drive, and trust the work that we've put in."

Game #2: Western Illinois Softball 4, North Dakota 0
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 - 8 p.m.

Western Illinois (1-1) combined a ten hit offensive outburst with junior Kelsey Michelini's complete game shut out to tally a 4-0 win over North Dakota (1-1) in its second game of the day.

A top of the first inning, two-out rally sparked the first run for the Leathernecks. Senior Jamie Goss ripped a shot to right center and wheeled around the bases to third. Sophomore Meg Kelly plated the run with a single down the right field line.

With one out in the third, freshman Sammy Marshall earned a walk, then promptly stole second, tallying her third swipe of the day. KC Dunne knocked a double to left earning the RBI, then stole third. Kelly plated Dunne on a single to the pitcher, giving the Leathernecks a 3-0 lead.

North Dakota threatened in the bottom of the fourth with a lead off single turning into a double on a fielding error. With the runner on second, the Leatherneck defense shut down the effort with two ground ball outs stranding the Sioux at third.

The Leatherneck defense put the stop to UND's offensive efforts again in the fifth, when the North Dakota tried to advance a lead off walk to second on a sacrifice bunt. Kelly fielded the bunt cleanly and threw the runner out at second, keeping the Sioux out of scoring position. A ground out and fly out ended the inning.

Western Illinois added another insurance run in the sixth. The two-out charge was sparked by a Lia Romeo double to right center, followed by a Briana Williams single to the shortstop. With runners on first and third, Marshall singled. The pitcher's errant throw on the play allowed Romeo to score.

In the bottom of the sixth, North Dakota tried to muster a comeback leading off the inning with an Erica Younan single. After a pop fly retired the next batter, second baseman Emma Jarrell flashed some leather with a diving catch and then doubled off Younan at first to end the inning.

Michelini (1-0) was the winning pitcher throwing a complete game shut out. She gave up three hits with five strike outs and allowed three walks.

"The good thing about Kelsey today was that she was able to make minor adjustments throughout the game," assistant coach Liz Young said. "She did a great job of staying consistent, keeping her pitches down in the zone and letting her defense play behind her."

All but one Leatherneck in the line-up recorded a hit in game two following a three hit team performance in game one. Megan Kelly paced the offensive threat going 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Western Illinois is back in action Sunday (Feb. 12) against Iowa State at 4 p.m. and Northern Iowa at 8 p.m. Live stats are available for the events at www.cyclones.com.

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